HOUSTON, Texas – Mexico Head Coach Gerardo Martino is expecting to see the very best from his team in Saturday’s 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal with Costa Rica.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Martino feels like the distractions that hindered Mexico in last Sunday’s narrow 3-2 win over Martinique to finish Group A won’t be back on display against the Ticos.
“I expect a good Mexico. In the last several days what I have seen from the players makes me believe that we are going to see a good Mexico,” said Martino.
“I think we have to correct those distractive situations because those are the ones that raise doubts within ourselves on how we watch and analyze 90 minutes of football. Like I said, those kind of distractions in a quarterfinal, semifinal or final leave you without the possibility of winning,” added Martino.
In its first three games, Mexico has largely controlled matters by scoring 13 goals against opponents. Martino feels like this is the type of match in which El Tricolor must make a strong statement.
“We have to show supremacy. We want to command the match and subject the opponent to our idea. We have to respond like title candidates,” said Martino.
Saturday’s match marks the eighth Gold Cup contest between Mexico and Costa Rica and the third at the quarterfinal stage.
Like any Mexico-Costa Rica match, Martino is well aware that the Ticos will be tough to take down.
“Usually this is a match that is seen later in the tournament, but like in any Copa America or Gold Cup or World Cup, results happen that you don’t expect.
“But tomorrow I think we will see two title candidates, with one continuing and the other left behind,” concluded
