Club America goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez (pictured) has seen plenty of action in the 2016 Liga MX Clausura. (Photo: Mexsport)
QUERETARO, Mexico – Club America goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez says he is ready to step in for Moises Muñoz and start the first leg of the 2015-16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League final against host Tigres on Wednesday.
Muñoz has been battling ankle issues and re-aggravated an injury last week in a scrimmage last week. He didn’t play in Friday’s 1-0 loss at Queretaro in the Liga MX Clausura, but was in the net for both of the Aguilas’ SCCL games against Santos.
“I don’t know if I’m going to keep goal or not,” said Gonzalez, who has appeared in seven Clausura matches, six as a starter. “I don’t know how serious Moises’ injury is. I’m going to continue working as if I’m chosen to play. If I do it, I want to do it in the best way.”
Although the 25-year-old made several outstanding in the Queretaro setback, Club America saw its five-game domestic winning streak come to an end. While Gonzalez was pleased with his performance, he would have preferred to keep the impressive run alive.
“I feel good about my play but the most important thing is that the team wins,” Gonzalez remarked. “It didn’t happen for us. I’m calm about the work I’ve been putting in, but what I want is for America to win.”
Club America, the defending SCCL champion, will now turn its attention to Tigres. Gonzalez knows that in order to retain the title and claim a record-breaking seventh CONCACAF club crown, a challenge at the Estadio Universitario will have to be managed.
“Now we have to prepare for the match to play a Champions League final, a hard final that we are going to have in Monterrey,” he concluded.
