El Tri wins as Martino defends training regimen
América coach criticizes national team operation
Miguel Herrera was also a protagonist in the skirmish between Liga MX clubs and El Tri. “El Piojo” lambasted the national team organization in fiery comments after Sunday’s scoreless draw against Cruz Azul. The Aguilas had four players in the El Tri camp last week.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Tom Marshall tweeted that Herrera declined to retract his criticism of “Tata” Martino’s midweek camps. “El Piojo” claimed that “his players worked double sessions” and were exhausted when they reported back to América ahead of the Clásico Joven.
Herrera also whined that he wasn’t allowed to conduct similar camps when he was Mexico’s coach, Marshall wrote, complaining that “foreigners are listened to more.”
Herrera’s original comments came after goalie Guillermo Ochoa suffered an injury during pre-game warm-ups. Herrera immediately – and insistently – blamed the national team training regimen that “Memo” took part in. He even threatened not to allow Aguilas players to attend future El Tri sessions.
The two-a-day training regimen was a frequent target of club complaints as El Tri’s midweek camp featured morning and afternoon sessions.
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Martino reacted calmly, assuring reporters that the entire workout program is scientifically assessed with full attention to how players respond. He also said the national team does not negotiate with club teams about which players it invites to camps.
Herrera got raked over the coals by national sports media types (what else is new?) who pointed out the irony of the situation. As a former coach of El Tri, “El Piojo” knows full well how things work with the national team.
Several reporters were quick to point out that under “El Piojo” the Aguilas have suffered a plethora of muscle injuries. Herrera might have been on the defensive in an effort to deflect the questions about his own training methodologies.
In addition to losing Ochoa before the Cruz Azul match, América lost central defenders Emanuel Aguilera and Sebastián Cáceres to leg injuries DURING the game against the Cementeros. Aguilera had even left the previous game with a muscle pull and was subbed out to protect him ahead of the Clásico Joven. The fact that he reinjured his leg prompted some questions about the Aguilas’ medical team.
This latest group of casualties marks the sixth game out of 12 in which Aguilas players have been forced out of a match with muscle strains. Aguilera also came out of the season opener, asking to be removed in minute 10 with a leg ailment. On Matchday 10, Roger Martínez exited only 10 minutes after coming on for Federico Viñas who himself left with a leg complaint.
During the 10 games of the aborted Clausura 2020 season, two Aguilas missed time with muscle laments. The season before that, three América players were forced to the sidelines with fatigue and muscle strain.