Tom Marshall: Mixed feedback from Herrera’s Euro trip

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera and his
entourage headed back from their European
tour in the early hours of Thursday morning
and probably have mixed emotions at how it
went, despite the positive statements made on
arrival.
Naturally, the negative from Carlos Vela was a
stain on the trip and Javier Hernandez’s
situation and lack of playing time at
Manchester United is disconcerting, as
Herrera conceded.
“We asked him (Chicharito) and obviously he’s
frustrated at sometimes coming on, giving
everything and scoring or getting his team
goals and then not seeing minutes,” Herrera
told reporters in Mexico City’s main airport.
“He had possibilities to leave (Manchester
United in January), he told us, but they didn’t
let him.”
But the positive is that the Europe-based
players, aside from Vela, are all onboard and
willing to fight for their places in El Tri’s
squad ahead of Brazil 2014, although that, as
Herrera has assured, doesn’t mean to say it
will be easy or they have a guaranteed place.
Hernandez, for instance, needs to get more
regular minutes from somewhere to arrive at
the World Cup in rhythm and with Manchester
United only now involved in the Champions
League and Premier League and Robin Van
Persie and Wayne Rooney back fit, it looks
unlikely.
In Portugal, Diego Reyes is an ongoing
concern. The fact he is yet to debut can’t be
doing the player’s confidence much good and
while Herrera is likely to give his former
America player more chances, there remains
doubts about the 21-year-old’s World Cup
place, especially if other center backs in
Mexico start to find some form.
His teammate Hector Herrera’s chances of
more playing time improved significantly
when Lucho Gonzalez left Porto last month
and he could well be a starter in Brazil if he
can pick up some form and start impacting
games in Portugal.
Over in Germany, Andres Guardado’s debut
for Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday was tepid
at best, but the good news is he got playing
time and the fact he featured at left back
could be important for Herrera as he defines
who should play the left wing back role.
In France, Guillermo Ochoa continues to be
steady, even in a weak Ajaccio side fighting
for survival in Ligue 1.
Ochoa’s predisposition would’ve pleased
Herrera. There were rumors that the ‘keeper
had demanded a starting spot in Jose Manuel
de la Torre’s side last August, but it is clear
he wants to be with the squad at Brazil.
Spain-based trio Javier Aquino, Giovani Dos
Santos and Hector Moreno appear the most
consistent and set of all Mexico’s foreign
legion and are on course for that World Cup
call-up if they keep up their current form.
Meanwhile, the federation has been busy
nailing down the friendly schedule before the
World Cup, with a tie in Phoenix on April 2
against the United States the highlight.
The games are still to be confirmed shortly,
but director of national Hector Gonzalez
Inarritu teams told media in Mexico City that
friendlies against Turkey (May 28, Mexico
City), Ecuador (May 31, Dallas), Bosnia (June
3, Chichago) and Portugal (June 6, Boston) are
all likely.