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Coach Aguirre calls potential schedule change a 'kick in the stomach'
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Coach Aguirre calls potential schedule change a 'kick in the stomach'

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Mexico's national football team coach Javier Aguirre expressed strong displeasure over a potential shift in the England match schedule.
  • Aguirre stated that a change would disrupt the team's meticulously planned training and recovery regimen.
  • FIFA is considering moving the Sunday match from its scheduled 6 PM start due to forecasts of severe thunderstorms.

Mexico's national football team coach Javier Aguirre reacted with frustration to the possibility of FIFA altering the kickoff time for his team's upcoming Round of 16 match against England. The potential schedule change, driven by forecasts of severe thunderstorms on Sunday, would force a significant disruption to the team's established plans.

"I am very upset. It hits me like a kick in the stomach, because now everything has to be changed, the entire plan and work, because you are swallowing six hours that you have programmed. I don't like it at all, although obviously we will abide by what FIFA says, but neither I nor my players like it," Aguirre, known as 'El Vasco,' told reporters.

I am very upset. It hits me like a kick in the stomach, because now everything has to be changed, the entire plan and work, because you are swallowing six hours that you have programmed. I don't like it at all, although obviously we will abide by what FIFA says, but neither I nor my players like it.

— Javier AguirreMexico's coach expressing his strong negative reaction to a potential match schedule change.

The match is currently scheduled for 6:00 PM local time at the Estadio Azteca. However, predictions of heavy electrical storms from Sunday afternoon onwards have prompted discussions about moving the game to an earlier midday slot. A similar situation caused a delay in Mexico's Round of 32 match against Ecuador on June 30 at the same venue, increasing calls for a schedule adjustment, though FIFA has yet to make a final decision.

Aguirre emphasized the cascading effect such a change would have on the team's daily operations. "It seems like a trifle but it is not. Today, 60 people are working so that 26 players go out on Sunday to win the match; it is not a minor thing. I understand the reasons and arguments, but nobody consulted me and I am quite upset," he stated. He explained that the disruption affects everything from meal times and nap schedules to physiotherapy sessions.

It seems like a trifle but it is not. Today, 60 people are working so that 26 players go out on Sunday to win the match; it is not a minor thing. I understand the reasons and arguments, but nobody consulted me and I am quite upset.

— Javier AguirreAguirre explaining the significant impact of a schedule change on the team's operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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