We play every game like a final, Leagues Cup no exception - Gabriel Milito | OneFootball

“We play every match as if it were a final, and the Leagues Cup will be no exception. We give the same value to Liga MX, this tournament, and the Concacaf Champions Cup. We know it’s a competition that gives you no margin for error, so starting with a win will be very important. We begin tomorrow and we don’t want to think about the second match yet. We’re going up against a very strong opponent, and we’ll have to play a very good game. We’re very excited about getting through these matches and advancing to the Quarterfinals.”

We’re fully aware that they are a very dynamic and direct team, with incredibly fast players. Tomorrow we’ll have to be a patient, organized, and solid team, understanding that our nature will always be to look for the opponent’s goal. If we manage to play that kind of match, we’ll be closer to getting a favorable result.

When we built the squad, we placed a lot of importance on attack. We brought in players like Jordan Carrillo and Kevin Castañeda, in addition to those we already had. Efraín Álvarez can play out wide or inside, Brian Gutiérrez also gives us different alternatives, while Santiago Sandoval and Hugo Camberos are very important young players for us. We looked for players who can score, and today we have very good options. In every position, we look for quality and alternatives. When we need fresh legs during matches, we’ll have them, and at the same level of quality. The demand is very high in every position, and that benefits the team.” Match by match, we decide who should play. In some positions, it doesn’t depend solely on performance, but also on what the team needs. It’s not that a player doesn’t play because he did poorly, but because the team needs something different. Everyone must be ready to play… and also to not play.”

We have goalkeepers at a very similar level. Whalley has shown that he is ready every time he has been called upon, including in the playoffs. He is an important player for us.

He knows the confidence we all have in him, and that’s why he plays for this team. His teammates believe in him a lot, and this run won’t change our opinion. The great strikers in the world also go through moments when goals are hard to come by. He’s going to score again. He has to stay calm and emotionally balanced. We will continue reinforcing that confidence; if it’s not tomorrow, we’ll keep pushing for it to happen in the next match. Good and bad runs are part of football, and anxiety is never a good adviser.

The demands are extremely high, as they should be at a big club. We work with the understanding that collective objectives always come before individual ones. Every week, you have to come close to excellence because we’re all fighting for a place. The more options we can give the coaching staff, the more chances the team will have to respond to different approaches. I want to contribute no matter whether I’m asked to play on the right or the left.” The coach constantly emphasizes that we must be a team with one single way of playing. We don’t look at opponents or circumstances to decide whether to play one way or another; Chivas always looks to make its mark. No matter what role we are asked to take on, we are all willing to contribute to achieve the team’s objectives.”

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