Sanchez seeks sweeping changes in Mexico
Reuters - Monday 18 October 2010, 21:22
ZURICH, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Hugo Sanchez has called for
sweeping changes in the Mexican football federation, saying it
has lost credibility following a conflict with national team
players.
Sanchez, widely regarded as the finest player Mexico has
produced, added that he wanted another chance to coach the
national side but only when the current situation had been
sorted out.
"I'm annoyed and disappointed with the way they are running
the federation and the national team," he told Reuters in an
interview after taking part in a meeting of FIFA's football
committee.
"At the moment, they are confused and they don't know what
to do," added the former Real Madrid striker.
"So, it's better to take advantage of this low point and
replace them with people who have knowledge and capabilities.
"We need restructuring because there's no credibility, so we
need to start again with a solid base."
Mexico's problems began in September when 13 players were
disciplined by national teams' director Nestor de la Torre for
holding a party at the team hotel after a friendly against
Colombia in Monterrey.
Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez were suspended for six months
and the other 11, including Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez, team captain Rafael Marquez and Giovani dos Santos,
were each fined 50,000 pesos ($3,900).
Shortly afterwards, the 13 players asked not to be picked
again until De la Torre was removed from his post.
Despite this, most of them were included in the squad for
last week's friendly against Venezuela and warned they could
face stiffer penalties if they ignored the call-up
They
travelled for the match and De la Torre quit in an apparent
victory for the rebels.
There was further confusion on Saturday when Victor
Vucetich, one of two candidates to coach the national side along
with Jose de la Torre, pulled out of the race.
"Like any Mexican, I'm delighted to help my country but in
the future, this is not a good moment," said Sanchez. "That's
why I understand Vucetich."
Sanchez coached Mexico for 16 months following the 2006
World Cup but was fired after the under-23 team failed to
qualify for the Olympic Games, something which still rankles.
"My job was the senior team but they put me in charge of the
under-23 and Panamerican Games teams as well," he said.
"You can't make a coach responsible for three national
teams.
"The senior team was doing well, we finished third at the
Copa America in 2007, we beat Uruguay and Brazil and I was fired
because of something else which shouldn't have been my
responsibility."
Sanchez had kinder words for Jose Mourinho, the latest coach
at his former club Real Madrid.
"He'd doing well," said Sanchez. "There has to be discipline
and it's producing results because Real Madrid have always had
difficulties in defence.
"Now they have discipline in defence and the results are
proving them right."