Another weekend has come and gone. All the Mexicans playing in Europe have gone back to their club to participate in training and friendlies this weekend. Here are some key players that stood out from this past weekend.
Mexicans Abroad: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
Players Heating Up
Hirving Lozano
Hirving Lozano left the national team back in June to sign for PSV Eindhoven. That move will help his career at both club and national team level. Though it was unfortunate to see his fellow Mexican teammates leave, Lozano has flourished this passed weekend with PSV. Playing 65 minutes with a goal and an assist against De Treffers, Phillip Cocu will see an option to use against Osijek Wednesday as PSV look to find themselves in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.
Guillermo Ochoa
Memo Ochoa made his debut this weekend with Standard Liege against KV Mechelen. Though it was not the ideal move for the 32-year-old keeper, he won’t have to worry for the backline to get carved up like turkey. Ochoa let in a goal within the first seven minutes of the game but managed to put that behind him and grabbed a couple of saves. He managed to pull off a double save as well. If Ochoa excels and gets plenty of minutes, there is no doubt he will travel with El Tri to Russia next summer.
Jesus “Tecatico” Corona
Playing a full 90 minutes against Real Deportivo, Tecatico put on a great performance for Porto. Bagging a goal and an assist, it looks like Corona has won the trust of Sergio Conceicao. Corona will also participate with Porto in playing European football and is playing at the next level. Corona continues to improve his game with Porto which will help him improve his career with El Tri. With plenty of minutes on the way, Tecatico will be on his way to Russia with Mexico next summer.
Players Cooling Down
Hector Herrera, Diego Reyes, and Miguel Layun
The remaining Mexican players at Porto played the remaining 20 minutes against Real Deportivo. Diego Reyes and Miguel Layun have not really broke through the first team that much. After a successful loan spell at Real Sociedad, Reyes looks to finally get regular minutes with the first team. Layun hasn’t logged enough minutes to prove his worth this past season. Hector Herrera has been pretty consistent in the midfield and wearing the captains armband a few times this past season. With the World Cup around the corner, minutes are crucial for these three players if they will travel and preform well in Russia with El Tri.
Raul Jimenez
After bagging two goals this summer with El Tri and being a threat to defenses, it is frustrating to see Raul not produce much in the friendlies with Benfica. Raul gets his chances and regular minutes with the Portuguese. It is just up to him to put his chances away and being consistent. El Tri will need him to produce next summer in Russia.
