At age 33, Luis Rodriguez has experienced many things in football and has developed a knack for excelling in international tournaments. He was part of the Tigres team that won the 2020 Concacaf Champions Cup and then made history by becoming the first Concacaf side to reach a FIFA Club World Cup final.
Fast forward nearly four years later and Rodriguez is in Qatar as a member of Pachuca, hoping to bring home the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024 after helping his club capture the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup last June.
“When we played the Concacaf Champions Cup final months ago, it was said that it was the most important tournament that the club had in recent times because of what it meant to be in the Intercontinental Cup, but also what a Club World Cup ticket meant,” said Rodriguez to FIFA in Doha. “The truth is that we are very anxious for this to start because we have been preparing and so, yes, the team is very hungry.”
It is also significant for Rodriguez on a personal level to have the chance to play in a tournament like the Intercontinental Cup, knowing that his loved ones will be following every step of the way.
“Personally, I have kids and when I am far away from Mexico, I want them to see me representing first the club, then the family, Mexico and Concacaf,” said Rodriguez. “It is something that they may be too small to understand, but them seeing me from far away, I know it fills them with joy.”
Pachuca get things rolling tomorrow in the FIFA Derby of the Americas against Brazilian side Botafogo at the Stadium 974, who this month have already have won the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian domestic league. Anyone who has watched Mexico and Brazilian national teams tangle in FIFA competitions knows that they produce special games. This tilt between these two club sides should be no different.
“It is going to be a unique experience,” said Rodriguez. “To play against Brazilian teams is always a plus. We know the qualities that Brazilian football has. In regards to the game, I think it is going to be very interesting from both sides, so we are going to give them something to talk about.”
One of the biggest hurdles that Rodriguez and his teammates have faced in this process has been the dearth of competitive matches. Pachuca last’s official fixture came on 10 November to close the Liga MX domestic season. Despite a level of inactivity in terms of matches, the tenacious nature in which they have trained should still see them in form for tomorrow’s clash.
“The truth is that we have spent many days now training intensely, which is what characterises our group, so that is surely going to be reflected [on the pitch],” he said.
“We have been training here and we feel more adapted to everything. It is going to be an interesting game.”
While Pachuca boast many experienced, veteran heads like Rodriguez, forward Salomon Rondon and centre back Gustavo Cabral, the team is also brimming with some of the rising stars in Mexican football like Bryan Gonzalez and Elias Montiel. Rodriguez believes that the time spent in Qatar, no matter the result, will enormously benefit the club’s youth movement when they begin their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign next June.
“No doubt this will help,” concluded Rodriguez. “It is going to be totally different. Right now, every game that we play is a final. To be more specific, if you win, you are able to advance, so assuredly that will help us with what we are going to experience later on. But right now, we’re going step by step. Today we are enjoying being here and we will show that on the pitch.” (fifa.com)
