These players represent me, I’m sure they’ll do very well, Gabriel Milito | OneFootball

I’m very happy at Chivas. The more time passes, the happier I feel and the more represented I feel by the team and the players. We hope this Leagues Cup will be an adventure for us. It won’t be an easy task, but we’re going to try, and I’m happy to be competing in this tournament again because I’m happy to belong to Chivas. The team plays the way I like, it plays at full intensity the way we like and the way we can. It’s true that we’ve had many chances and scored few goals. We haven’t had the efficiency needed to score, but that doesn’t worry me, because it’s easier to regain efficiency and then have the goals come than to recover the footballing level. If you analyze the statistics on the times we’ve won the ball back in the opposition’s half, the balance is favorable. Based on the players we have, I like to have control of the ball. We’re doing well and surely there are things to improve, but the team and these players represent me, and I have no doubt that things will turn out very well with them.

What matters to me is that we play at full intensity and hold nothing back. We are a team that likes to press forward and in the opposition’s half. That means we take risks with a high defensive line. We feel comfortable playing that way. Tomorrow’s match, because of the format of this tournament, leaves us with the obligation to win, and we will go in with that mindset. I respect everyone’s opinion. We focus on what’s internal. What I don’t like is when the team is criticized; I will always defend the players when they are criticized unfairly. I analyze results in order to win, but I also analyze performance. Many times, if Chivas draws two matches in a row, a lot of noise is created. I don’t see it that way; a coach’s analysis is very different.

They are tournaments with different teams, but football is always about the same thing. Our intentions are always the same. In MLS there are players with a lot of quality and great physical power. In Mexico there is a bit more possession play, and here that physical component is added. We already saw it in the first match against Los Angeles, and tomorrow surely, although it’s another team with different characteristics, it will be a good game. They are coming off a win and we need to win, so it will be a very intense match. MLS evolves year after year and has become more competitive all the time. If it sets its mind to it, it still has room to grow even more.

José Castillo will not be available. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to take part in this match and perhaps not in the last one either. Everyone else is available. We need a lot of freshness because Dallas has great players and very powerful forwards, so we will have to play with the same intensity and passion we showed in the last match.”

It’s a pleasure for us to have the people with us. In the end, it gives us an extra boost that is always appreciated, and this opportunity will be no exception. We always feel very supported by our crowd and our fans. Hopefully we can win and play a good match to dedicate it to the people who expect so much from us.

After the World Cup everyone was happy with football and waiting for the league to begin. I think this is bringing all the fans back; with the way we play, with the desire and drive we put in, we aim to draw everyone in. MLS still has a lot of room to grow. You can constantly see the level with the players they bring in, and they also try to make home-field advantage count. We have to keep showing the kind of football we’ve been playing. The demand at Chivas will always be to be at the top, to fight in every match and every tournament. We’ve known that since we arrived here, and that’s what we’ve constantly aimed for.”

View publisher imprint