Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac, forward for Tigres UANL, joined this Monday in the criticism that the Leagues Cup has received from members of the Mexican soccer community.
“I don’t think that Marseille in Europe would have agreed to stop the local tournament for a month to go to another country to compete in an international tournament, but it is part of the growth of two leagues, of a rivalry. The United States is a show and it’s cool,” he explained in the press conference before the stars of the Mexican league face those of the MLS, in the All Star Game of the United States competition.
Last week, coaches such as the Portuguese Renato Paiva, from Toluca, and the Spaniard Domènec Torrent, from San Luis, also complained that the Mexican league is going to pause for a month, after only four rounds have been played, so that the 18 clubs can travel to the United States to play the Leagues Cup, in which they will face MLS teams.
Gignac, who played for France in South Africa in 2010 and is a former player for Marseille, also believes that it would be inconceivable for any league in European football to take a month-long break to play another competition.
“IT WOULD BE GOOD IF AMERICAN CLUBS COULD COME AND PLAY IN MEXICO” 👀
Gignac was clear about the All Star Game and the Leagues Cup in a press conference with André Jardine and Jonathan Dos Santos
“I DON’T THINK EUROPE WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THAT (STOPPING THE LEAGUE)” 🚨#CentralFOX pic.twitter.com/hRJgJhKoPa
— CENTRAL FOX MX (@CentralFOXMX) July 22, 2024
André Jardine also complained
Brazilian André Jardine, coach of two-time champion América, said that the Leagues Cup will be positive for his team since they will use it as a preseason, after the short break they have had after winning two titles last season.
“At América we didn’t have much time for vacation and we didn’t have a preseason, so the break is good for us at América because we’re going to get players back, many of whom are coming back from vacation or are new signings,” said Jardine, who will be the manager of the Mexican team in the All-Star Game.
The coach who led Brazil to the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games said that the MLS All Star Game, which will be played this Wednesday in Columbus (USA), is positive for the Mexican league.
“It is an important event, which we must value very much and tomorrow looks like it will be a great match because it is not easy to bring together so many great players in one match. We have our competitive side and in any match we are in we are going to go out to win,” added the manager.
Jonathan Dos Santos, a midfielder for América and former player for the American LA Galaxy, admitted that there is a rivalry between Mexicans and Americans that has been building for years and that as a result the Leagues Cup and the participation of Liga MX in the MLS All-Star Game have been generated.
“I was in the MLS for five years, I was able to see their progress in every sense and now that I see it from the outside I can confirm that they do things well, they export more players than we do to Europe, their infrastructure is impressive and in terms of marketing they do things well,” said the former player of the Spanish FC Barcelona.
Keep reading:
Inter Miami will face Puebla and Tigres UANL in the group stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup
The emotional moment between André-Pierre Gignac and his son after scoring a goal with a backheel
The Monterrey vs Tigres classic left controversy between the Argentine goalkeepers Andrada and Guzmán: “Fucking shit”