 |
|
Speechless Sanchez loses credibility in Mexico [Wed Aug 31st, 2005]
Mexico City (Reuters) - With hindsight, UNAM coach Hugo Sanchez probably wishes he had stood naked on the touchline during the clash with Cruz Azul rather than worn a shirt with the number five emblazoned on the chest.
Sanchez ordered a collection of the shirts in case anyone in Mexico needed reminding that, during his playing days with Real Madrid, he was the Spanish championship's leading scorer on five occasions.
His decision to unveil the new design against Cruz Azul backfired spectacularly, as Sanchez's team crashed to a 5-0 home defeat by one of their biggest rivals in the Mexican championship.
Cruz Azul's trouncing of the inept and toothless Pumas could have repercussions for the man still regarded as the finest player Mexico has produced.
It almost certainly represents the end of Sanchez's dream of coaching Mexico at the 2006 World Cup and could keep the job out of his reach for a lot longer.
The defeat has silenced Sanchez, which is good news for Mexico's Argentine-born coach Ricardo La Volpe.
During the last year, Sanchez, not usually afraid to speak his mind, has repeated on various occasions that Mexico should sack La Volpe once they have qualified for the World Cup and give the job to him instead.
After Sunday's drubbing, most Mexicans are wondering why on earth the country's football federation (FMF) would want to do such a thing.
Last year, Sanchez was on a roll as the Pumas won two Mexican championships in a row -- the 2003/4 Clausura championship and the 2004/5 Apertura.
This year, the Pumas' fortunes have slumped dramatically and while Sanchez's persistent attacks on his bitter personal rival La Volpe have continued, they suddenly have a hollow ring to them.
RAGGED DEFENCE
La Volpe, though criticised for his gruff personality and lack of diplomacy, has given his side a competitive edge and confidence rarely seen in Mexican teams previously.
In contrast, Sanchez's Pumas have been a shambles in recent games, with two static forwards in attack waiting for long balls to be hoofed up to them and a huge hole where the midfield should be.
Cruz Azul could easily have doubled their score on Sunday against a Pumas team short on self-belief and ragged in defence.
The defeat was the low point of what has already been a bad year for Sanchez.
Firstly, he saw Real Madrid give their coach's job, the other post he had coveted, to Vanderlei Luxemburgo, a Brazilian with no previous connection to the club.
After that, UNAM performed dismally in the 2004/5 Mexican Clausura championship played in the first half of the year, finishing bottom of their six-team group with only 14 points from 17 matches.
They were then beaten by unfancied Costa Rican club Saprissa in the final of the CONCACAF Cup, the region's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, blowing a chance to compete in the world club championship in Japan at the end of the year.
At the end of that tie, Sanchez, who has yet to master the art of losing graciously, skipped the media conference as he nearly always does when his side lose.
He then took off for Spain, touting his services to some of the Primera Liga's smaller clubs, only to return home empty-handed.
The Pumas welcomed him back but, only two matches into the current Apertura championship, Sanchez, who has already been dismissed more than a dozen times, was sent off again during the match against Guadalajara.
This time, the FMF lost patience and fined him US$7,000 for his outburst.
WINNING MENTALITY
Sanchez has alienated many of the FMF directors with his frequent tirades against La Volpe.
Even when Mexico beat Brazil at the Confederations Cup, Sanchez was unable to find any kind words for his rival and instead referred to the fact that he had won more than La Volpe as a player.
"To be able to kindle in the players a winning mentality, we need the person who is in charge to have a winning mentality and we need him to have been a winner," he said, adding that it would also be more profitable to have him in charge.
"If the (club) owners want to earn more money from advertising, publicity and television and they want a better revenue from the national team, they know what they have got to do," he said.
"I will continue waiting patiently, and they know I'm ready."
Sanchez had put himself forward as a candidate to coach Mexico after the 2002 World Cup but then pulled out of the race because the FMF made him stand alongside other candidates, including La Volpe.
Sanchez said the FMF would be sorry they did not select him automatically on the basis of his previous record as a player. "I've always said they will regret their decision," he said recently.
Even the Mexican players, many of whom looked up to Sanchez when they were youngsters, have said their former idol is going over the top.
"Sometimes, his comments are not so coherent and they are very harsh," said Barcelona's Rafael Marquez. "He has the right to speak his mind because he is someone we all look up to, but there are limits."
News headlines from around the world.