Guillermo Ochoa confirms bad relationship with Carlos Kameni at Málaga

Guillermo Ochoa had a breakout performance with Mexico at the 2014 World Cup and following his participation in the tournament he joined Málaga on a permanent transfer. The Club América product was supposed to be the starting goalkeeper for the LaLiga side, but in the end the manager in charge at that time, Javi Gracia, decided to use Carlos Kameni instead.

Why was Guillermo Ochoa benched at Málaga?

“The president [José María Muñoz] wanted me there and he had told me that Kameni was going to leave,” said Ochoa during an interview with Sportweek. “I should’ve been the starter, but the head coach had a different plan. It is true [they stopped talking]Kameni started talking behind my back and I think he was afraid,” commented the 37-year-old.

Ochoa was mainly used for the Copa del Rey matches and it took him almost six months to make his debut with Málaga after his arrival. His first match was on 3 December in the 1-1 draw against Deportivo de La Coruña in the cup competition. The Mexican international finally made his first LaLiga appearance in March 2016 in the 3-3 draw against Deportivo, replacing Kameni, who got injured in the 36th minute.

Eventually, the 37-year-old left Málaga in the summer of 2016 and joined Granada on loan, becoming the first choice for the goalkeeping position. Guillermo Ochoa broke the record for most goals conceded in a single LaLiga season with 82, but he was also the goalkeeper with the most saves across the top five leagues in Europe with 162.