Aguirre 'surprised' by Mexico's mature, fearless World Cup generation

Javier Aguirre, the coach of the Mexican national team, expressed his astonishment at the maturity and fearlessness of his current players. He described them as a generation that "fears nothing, fears success." Aguirre, who is 67, now feels like the "grandfather" to many of his players, a stark contrast to his previous feeling of being their "father."

Speaking ahead of a crucial match against Ecuador that will determine their path to the Round of 16, Aguirre highlighted the team's growth throughout the World Cup. He acknowledged that initial nerves affected some players at the start of the tournament. However, he stated that the team has moved past that anxiety, understanding the high stakes of the competition.

"It's kill or be killed, and the whole tournament comes down to 90 minutes," Aguirre said in a press conference. He echoed the sentiment of player Jesús Gallardo, emphasizing a "game by game" approach and the need to continuously improve their play. The team aims to minimize anxiety and nervousness as they face Ecuador.

Aguirre affirmed that the team is prepared for the challenge and eager to continue their ascent. "We are prepared for everything, we want to keep growing," he stated. He described the team environment as a family united by a shared dream, enjoying their time together and maintaining their full enthusiasm for the competition.