Rafa Márquez under pressure ahead of USMNT clash, with Gilberto Mora a doubt | OneFootball

Rafa Márquez has been in charge of Mexico for just two games, and while the Mexican national team has no problem connecting with its fans when it comes to filling stadiums, the same cannot be said about what is happening on the pitch.

That is precisely the identity Márquez has been talking about.

When he speaks about giving this Mexico team an identity, he is not only talking about connecting with the supporters. He also wants this team to have an identity on the field. And after two games as Mexico’s head coach, well… we’re still waiting.

Mexico’s fans, of course, are doing their part. Whenever the national team announces a tour in the United States, packed stadiums are basically guaranteed. It does not matter who is playing, what kind of form the team is in, or how expensive the tickets are. The fans show up. They support Mexico.

Mexico Not Exactly Rewarding their Fans

But Rafa Márquez’s Mexico has yet to give them much to celebrate.

Perhaps the brightest moment of these first two games came during the opening 45 minutes against Colombia. Mexico actually went into halftime trailing 1-0, but there were stretches where the team looked much closer to the version Márquez wants to build. Then came the second half, when Mexico finally found an equalizer through a moment of pure brilliance from 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, the Mexican wonderkid.

Still, Mexico did not exactly live up to expectations in Márquez’s managerial debut.

Three days later, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, Márquez rotated the entire team against Peru. Once again, Mexico conceded first. Once again, Mexico came back. And once again, that was basically it.

Two games. Two draws. Two performances that, if we are being particularly demanding, can be described as mediocre.

This is Mexico. We all know how this movie works. The moment the results stop coming, even in friendlies, the pressure starts building. Social media turns into a battlefield, criticism of the coach explodes, and suddenly every tactical decision becomes a national emergency.

Now comes the real test.

Big Pressure Ahead of the U.S. Tie

On Saturday, Mexico faces the United States at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (the 14th time Mexico will play at that venue) and this one carries a completely different weight.

The USMNT has already beaten Peru and Chile during this international window and is further along in its process under Mauricio Pochettino.

Mexico, meanwhile, is still very much carrying the remnants of Javier Aguirre’s project, with Márquez trying to put his own fingerprints on a team he knows extremely well after working as Aguirre’s assistant throughout the World Cup cycle.

He knows these players. He knows the environment. He knows exactly what is expected. What he has not yet managed to do is put that idea onto the pitch.

That is why Saturday is such a massive test for Márquez. If Mexico fails to win, the criticism will inevitably increase. Fans, journalists and the entire social-media football universe will have plenty to say, and the pressure heading into the final game of this FIFA window will only grow.

Mexico closes the window on October 6 against Chile at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But if there is one game during this window where Márquez desperately needs to see his team take a step forward, this is it.

The United States.The archrival.In their house against a team that has already scored eight goals in two games.

Mexico has scored just twice. Good luck.

Reality Check

Of course, the Mexican Football Federation is not currently putting Márquez’s job on the line. The plan is for him to lead Mexico through the entire process and eventually manage the team at the 2030 World Cup.

But football has a funny way of creating problems where there supposedly aren’t any.

If Mexico starts slowly, if performances continue to disappoint, or if the team fails to show progress, the federation could eventually find itself answering questions it would rather avoid. That is why Márquez is expected to go with his strongest possible lineup against the United States.

The Gilberto Mora Issue

One of the biggest stories surrounding Mexico over the last few hours has been the status of the 17-year-old. TUDN reported that Mora had felt discomfort from an ankle injury, putting his availability for Saturday into doubt. Which would be a shame, because everyone was looking forward to seeing the two 17-year-old sensations go head-to-head: Mexico’s Gilberto Mora against the United States’ Cavan Sullivan.

But there is some good news.

Claro Sports reported Thursday that Mora trained normally, which suggests he could potentially get minutes against the United States. Friday’s press conference should provide much more clarity when Márquez speaks to the media and, presumably, answers the inevitable questions about his young star.

And Mora’s stock is rising quickly.

Reports have emerged that Liverpool are interested in the Tijuana midfielder and could be willing to pay around $40 million for him once he turns 18 on October 14.

At that point, the list of suitors probably won’t exactly be short. Mora, Tijuana and his representative will eventually have to decide what the best destination is for the teenager.

But first, there is a game to play

And Márquez wants the best of the best available.

Raúl Rangel is expected to start in goal, with the Chivas goalkeeper having also been Mexico’s starter at the World Cup.

There is still a question at left-back between Jesús Gallardo and Mateo Chávez. At center-back, Johan Vásquez and Israel Reyes are expected to start, while Jorge Sánchez remains the leading candidate at right-back.

In midfield, Erick Lira is essentially locked into the lineup. And if Gilberto Mora is 100 percent fit, he should be right there with him.

If Mora cannot play, that is where Márquez faces another major decision:Luis Chávez.Álvaro Fidalgo.Obed Vargas.Or even Luis Romo, who started for Mexico at the World Cup. Take your pick.

Then comes the biggest headache of them all: the attack. This is where Márquez’s Mexico has raised the most questions. Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones are both absent from this international window, leaving Márquez with fewer options up front.

Against Colombia, he went with Roberto Alvarado, “La Hormiga” González and Chucky Lozano. That attacking trio simply did not work.

Against Peru, Márquez changed things around, using Germán Berterame of Inter Miami, Orbelín Pineda of Monterrey and América’s Isaías Violante. Again, there was not exactly an avalanche of attacking football. Santiago Giménez came on in the second half, but he also failed to make much of an impact.

So now Márquez has a problem: who exactly is going to lead the line against Pochettino’s United States? Does he go back to “La Hormiga” González? Does he trust Berterame? Does he finally give Santiago Giménez the start? Or does Márquez finally decide to change the shape and play with two forwards?

Too Many Questions

Mexico has spent a long time playing with a single striker, so a tactical revolution would certainly be something. The problem is that, right now, there are still more questions than answers.

And then you look at the opposition. The United States has scored eight goals in two games. They opened the window with a 4-1 win over Peru and followed it with a 4-2 victory over Chile. They are not exactly the most impenetrable team defensively, but going forward, they are causing serious damage.

Mexico? Two goals in two games.

So yes, Rafa Márquez has pressure. Not the kind of pressure that puts his job on the line. The kind of pressure that comes with being Mexico’s manager, facing the United States, trying to establish a new identity, and having everyone waiting to see whether this project is actually going somewhere.

Saturday in Glendale will tell us a lot more. And if Márquez wants his Mexico to finally look like his Mexico, there probably isn’t a better stage to start showing it.

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