After the euphoria of winning the 12th title, the Toluca coach, Antonio ‘Turco’ Mohamedrevealed the key factor behind one of the most controversial and successful decisions of the End of Apertura 2025: the change of goalkeeper.
Antonio Mohames, two-time champion with Toluca | IMAGO7
In an interview with ESPN, the Argentine strategist confessed that sitting Hugo Gonzalez to give ownership to Luis Garcia in the Vuelta match against Tigres it was not a technical decision, but purely psychological and emotional, version that had already been revealed The Sniper in his RECORD column.
Protection of Hugo González
Mohamed explained that the mistake made by Hugo González in the first leg affected his state of mind, leading him to take a measure to protect him and ensure the best mental condition for the team.
“There is an emotional part. I have to put the best team at the moment and Hugo (González) brings a history with Tigres, nothing more. I believed that this match was better to protect,” said the ‘Turco’.
The coach emphasized the delicacy of the goalkeeper position, indicating that the failure in the first leg was due to a “emotional theme” and not to a loss of confidence in their abilities.
“Last game he played a great game but a mistake is due to an emotional issue, the goalkeeper is a very delicate position,” he added.
Hugo González’s error in the first leg | IMAGO7
Luis García, the hero of the two-time championship
The decision, which initially raised doubts, turned out to be a master move. Luis Garcia became the hero by saving two penalties in the final shootout, sealing the two-time championship for the Red Devils.
Mohamed clarified that García was in better “psychological conditions” to face the decisive match, given the circumstances.
“Hugo (González) and Luis (García) had been alternating throughout the tournament, two games each… for this game and the best thing for the team was for Luis to play because he would be in other psychological conditions. If this had been Matchday 4 I would not make the change.”
Luis García was a hero in the Final | IMAGO7
Mohamed and Hugo González cry for the decision
Finally, the ‘Turk’ confirmed that the decision was consulted and accepted by the starting goalkeeper and revealed that there was crying when he told Hugo the news.
“I talked to him about it, we talked together and we cried together with joy because he also wanted a rematch with Tigres.”
