The Argentine Santiago Solari, coach of the Eagles of America of Mexican soccer, showed this Wednesday respect for the career as coach of Javier Aguirre, helmsman of the Rayados de Monterrey.
“I have respect and admiration for Javier. I know his past here and also in Europe. For Javier, my utmost respect for what he is as a coach and his entire career, that it is not easy to be at the highest level for so long,” he explained in the media day prior to the Champions League final in which América and Monterrey will meet on Thursday.
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Solari will look at the home of the Rayados, the BBVA stadium, to obtain his first title at the helm of the Eagles, a team he joined last January to replace Miguel Herrera.
“We know Monterrey, the depth of its squad and the quality of its players and coaching staff. We are happy and grateful to be in a final, which is the conclusion of the path to success,” said the winner of a Club World Cup as Real Madrid strategist.
Solari ruled out that the losing streak of four in a row with which Monterrey comes undermines the potential of Aguirre’s team, the best valued in Mexico by the specialized site Transfermarkt.
“We have the utmost respect for Monterrey as a rival, not only as a club, but for its trajectory throughout the tournament. Reaching the finals is the culmination of a profitable process, we focus on our work and what we can do tomorrow,” he asserted.
The Argentine denied that contesting a final is nothing more than his merit and stressed that in America the most important thing is the group and not a person.
“We work as a team, all the parts and pieces are important, not only how each of the players behave at a tactical, physical or technical level, what I would like to highlight from this group of players is the moral commitment, with the effort with each of his teammates and the respect we have for each other, “he said.
If they beat Monterrey, América would reach eight titles in the Concacaf Champions League, they would be confirmed as the winners and would qualify for the next Club World Cup.
“In professional sports there is always the utmost respect for the rival, but fear is not a word that exists. There is respect and joy, that’s how I live it because I’m happy to be here,” he concluded.
