Miguel Herrera: Mexican National Team Controversy 'Exaggerated'

Former Mexican national team coach Miguel Herrera has weighed in on the recent controversy that threatened to disrupt the team's preparations for the 2026 World Cup, asserting that the situation was blown out of proportion. Speaking at his presentation as the new technical director for Atlante, Herrera, affectionately known as 'El Piojo,' squarely placed the blame on administrative missteps rather than the players themselves.

Herrera argued that the players were merely following contractual obligations and that the federation's issues stemmed from internal administrative conflicts, possibly involving perceived preferential treatment. He stated, "The truth is that it was more the administrative part. I think the boys have nothing to do with this. At the end of the day, they have to obey. The owners of the players are the clubs, not the National Team." He further clarified that FIFA cannot penalize a team for players not showing up to a camp, as the clubs are the ones who pay the players' salaries.

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La verdad es que fue más la parte administrativa. Me parece que los muchachos no tienen nada que ver en esto. Al final de cuentas deben obedecer. Los dueños de los jugadores son los clubes, no es la Selección.

Despite the administrative turmoil, Herrera highlighted the positive outcome: all players called up by current coach Javier Aguirre reported to the training center. "What's most important is that all the players called up by Javier Aguirre managed to show up at the High Performance Center (CAR) to prepare with an eye on the 2026 World Cup," he said. He acknowledged that "tremendous errors" were made but stressed that the resolution was key, allowing the team to focus on its World Cup campaign under Aguirre's guidance.

From a Mexican perspective, this situation underscores a recurring theme: the delicate balance between club interests, the national team's needs, and the administrative bodies overseeing Mexican football. While international media might focus on the potential disruption to the national team's performance, local coverage often delves into the internal power struggles and administrative inefficiencies that frequently plague the sport. Herrera's comments, reflecting a common sentiment among coaches and fans, emphasize the need for better coordination and a clearer focus on the national team's objectives, particularly with a World Cup on home soil looming.

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Se elevó más esta situación a lo que debería de ser. Todos nos dimos cuenta que hubo errores tremendos. La molestia fue más bien de un directivo porque 'a ellos sí y a mí no'. [...] Los muchachos y el cuerpo técnico de la Selección Mexicana me parece que no tienen mucho que ver en esta parte administrativa en la que desafortunadamente hubo equivocaciones. Lo importante es que se solucionó y están trabajando con Javier Aguirre