ORLANDO, Florida – He might still only be 30 years old, but it is safe to say that Tigres MF Javier Aquino has a wealth of experience when it comes to playing in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
At the tender age of 20, Aquino made his first ever appearance in the tournament in the 2010/11 edition with Cruz Azul in a 3-2 win over Panama’s San Francisco on July 28, 2010.
Counting that night in Panama, Aquino has played in 32 SCCL matches and reached the Final on three separate occasions with Tigres, in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2019.
The youthful exuberance that he had when he made his SCCL debut is the same sensation he feels today in trying to help Tigres win their first Concacaf crown.
“Ten years ago was my first experience in this Concacaf tournament with Cruz Azul. I remember it very well. Obviously, it was in different circumstances. I was a very young player who had just debuted in the first division and it was wonderful to play in such important games in an international tournament,” said Aquino in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.
“The SCCL is such an important tournament and now it’s time for another chance with Tigres. We have aspired to win the title several times, we have not been able to get it, but looking back, I have changed a lot. I have acquired a lot more maturity as a player during these last 10 years. Today, it is a different Javier Aquino, one that is more mature, a player that always tries to contribute to his team and still with the hope of earning the title that has eluded us,” added Aquino.
Suffice to say, 32 SCCL games over the course of 10 years means that Aquino has been to all corners of the Concacaf region. The winger likes to measure himself against opponents from outside Mexico and is motivated to make 2020 the year that Tigres finally gets over the SCCL hump.
“It is different than the domestic league in that we face teams from different countries, against different players, teams from the United States, from Canada, from Costa Rica. As a footballer, it is nice to face different opponents and go to different places. It is motivating to try to earn an important trophy at the international level. That is the biggest motivation that we have as a team and as players,” concluded Aquino.
