Quirarte's mix of youth and experience has left "very good feelings"

▲ Sixteen-year-old debutant Gilberto Mora has been one of Mexico's standout performers so far in the CONCACAF tournament. Photo @gil_morita

Karla Torrijos

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 4, 2025, p. a12

The mix of youth and experience that Javier Vasco Aguirre has implemented in the Mexican national team has left a very good impression , considered former soccer player Fernando Quirarte, who also applauded the fact that the tricolor manager has given players like Gilberto Mora, Marcel Ruiz and Mateo Chávez the opportunity to participate in the recent 2025 Gold Cup matches.

Mora's case has attracted the most attention, given that last Saturday, in the match against Saudi Arabia, corresponding to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF tournament, he became the youngest debutant to play an official match at just 16 years and 257 days old.

In the semi-final match this Wednesday against Honduras, the Xolos de Tijuana midfielder contributed with the assist that allowed Raúl Jiménez to score the winning goal (1-0) to secure a ticket to next Sunday's final, when Mexico will play the zone classic against its bitter rival, the United States.

The tricolor team is in a process, Aguirre is trying out players he didn't know and who have made a good impression, these games will be very useful to see what several of them are made of and find the ideal elements for the next World Cup in 2026. As for the younger ones, he is seeing how they will respond to these tests, especially the one coming Sunday, which will be very important, and if he doesn't do it now, when? Afterwards he will no longer have the chance to observe them closely and under certain circumstances , mentioned the former national team player.

He also indicated that the criticism that both the Mexican national team and Aguirre have received for their performance in the Gold Cup, where they remain undefeated, "is normal. The same thing is always going to happen with a national team. Whoever is sitting there knows that there are millions of coaches outside the field. We all give our opinions and they are highly respected, but at the end of the day, the one who has the responsibility is the coach.

"He knows why he makes the changes, he chooses this or that player, it's a very tough position, but you get used to it. Javier is looking for a style of play, he's going to influence the team like only he knows how. He's been in the national team before, there are many people who don't like his style of play, others do, but as long as he's happy with his work and the players respond 100 percent to him, which is the most important thing, things will improve. We have to let him work ," said the also World Cup player in Mexico 1986.

Even duel

Regarding the upcoming match against the United States, where Mexico will seek to win the Gold Cup twice, the former defender estimated that "it will be very difficult, without a doubt, but the tricolor team has shown that it has the ability to defeat its biggest rival in the region."

It definitely won't be easy; it will be a very close match. Both teams have what it takes to compete, and that will make the game very close. Whoever has the better composure will win.

Finally, he indicated that for this duel, the national team must improve its team play, be more accurate up front, have more attacks, be more daring; in general, I think they have done well, hopefully they can achieve the second championship .

▲ The 34-year-old Welsh midfielder joins the Catalans to bring his experience on European pitches. Photo: Jorge Ángel Pablo García

Erendira Palma Hernández

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 4, 2025, p. a12

When Welshman Aaron Ramsey's career was facing uncertainty due to injuries, an offer arrived from Mexico, a territory he'd had little contact with, and now it's his chance to re-emerge. The midfielder, who played for Arsenal and Juventus, has become the newest addition to Pumas, a squad facing title pressure heading into the 2025 Liga MX Clausura tournament.

I'm very excited about this challenge. I've had a great experience in my career, and I understand the expectations this club generates. I want to contribute in my role and meet the objectives. I'm looking forward to this challenge , he said upon being officially presented as a member of the felines.

While Ramsey has been a Wales international while also winning cup and league titles with Arsenal and Juventus – where he played alongside international star Cristiano Ronaldo – the last few years of his career have been challenging. He has been nursing a hamstring injury since September 2024, keeping him out of action, his most recent match being in March.

The player's medical situation even led him to take over on an interim basis with his former team, Cardiff, which he managed in the last three matches as they faced relegation to England's Third Division.

Now 34 years old and with a history of ups and downs, Ramsey was endorsed by Efraín Juárez to join the Pumas squad. The head coach was not present at the midfielder's presentation, so team president Raúl Gonzalez and Eduardo Saracho, director of sporting strategy, were responsible for announcing the signing and clarifying the reasons for his hiring.

He began his career at 16, making his debut for Cardiff, played for Arsenal, and has had a distinguished career. Before he was 18, he was showing signs of this footballing prowess. "Today marks the beginning of a new era ," González said.

We were looking for a leap in hierarchy and quality; he was eager for a new challenge; Aaron and world-class players raise the bar. We're bringing in someone the young players can see themselves in , Saracho noted.

Despite arriving at Pumas at a stage where he's trying to regain his best form, Ramsey demonstrates that he's studied both his new team and Liga MX, while also remembering Carlos Vela, a Tricolor icon with whom he played at the beginning of his career at Arsenal.

"Carlos is a great player; he's done very well in MLS. There's no doubt about his skills and talent. He was a great teammate, and I enjoyed it."

I know the pressure this team entails, that the fans are enormous and proud of the club and expect a lot, I'm excited to play my part and seek triumphs , he stated while wearing the auriazul shirt.

▲ Mexican Alejandro Kirk of the Blue Jays connected a single in the seventh inning to support his team's victory. AP Photo

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 4, 2025, p. a30

Los Angeles, In a fourth consecutive victory, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 yesterday and took over the lead in the American League East Division of the Major Leagues.

Veteran George Springer was again the leader in the closing series, which Toronto won 4-0.

The American punished the World Series runners-up with two home runs, three hits, and a total of four RBIs.

Springer began his recital with a two-run home run in the third inning that put the Blue Jays ahead 3-1.

Following Springer's blast, which drove in seven runs in Tuesday's win, Addison Barger hit another two-run homer in the fifth inning.

The Bronx Bombers , trying to save their honor in the playoffs, came close in the seventh inning with their stars Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger going through the register.

But Springer came back in the eighth inning to seal the home win with another 128-meter blast that drove in Nathan Lukes' run.

Judge had one hit and two walks but couldn't increase his home run tally to 31, which trails the Major League Baseball leader, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, by one.

New York's other team, the Mets, celebrated their 50th win of the year (with 38 losses) by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2.

Dominican Juan Soto, a star of the Queens team, contributed two hits and drove in one run, while his compatriot Starling Marte also had two hits and one run.

Elsewhere, Mexican Isaac Paredes had two hits and drove in a run in his team, the Houston Astros, 7-6, loss to the Colorado Rockies.

More MLB results: Miami 4-1 Minnesota, Washington 11-7 Detroit, Angels 5-1 Atlanta, Chicago Cubs 1-0 Cleveland, among others.