The problem isn’t Guillermo Ochoa

The first FIFA matchday of 2024 has arrived, bringing with it debates about who deserves to be in the Mexican national team.

In recent months, the debate has revolved around one person. And the truth is, there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground; either they love him or they hate him. Yes, very similar to the team that saw him rise.

Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña is the name that will be heard throughout the week. “If he’s already conceded a thousand goals.” “He’s going to relegate again.” “He’s too old.” “Give Malagón a chance already.” These are some of the phrases that will be repeated in these days

The reality is one, and no one is going to change it. At least for this FIFA matchday. Guillermo Ochoa is the starting goalkeeper and captain of Jaime Lozano’s national team. The decision is quite simple, at least for the TRI coach.

Ochoa trains and competes day in and day out in one of the top three leagues in the world. Ochoa faces some of the best footballers in the world week after week; Osimhen, Theo Hernandez, Kvaratskhelia, Lautaro, Vlahovic, Nicolo Barella, Rafael Leao, Federico Chiesa, Dybala, Immobile, just to name a few

This is what the Mexican goalkeeper faces week after week, which definitely raises the competitive level and at the same time gives the coach more tools to choose which player is above the rest.

Guillermo Ochoa was the captain of the Olympic tri in Tokyo 2020. Jaime Lozano chose to reinforce the goalkeeping position without hesitation. Guillermo Ochoa has become the undisputed leader of this team following the recent absences of high-profile players such as Andrés Guardado and Héctor Moreno. Further back, the absences of Chicharito or Layún. In other words, today the authoritative voice supporting Jaime Lozano in this conversation is the goalkeeper of Salernitana.

The debate becomes very sterile and basic when the discussion about the Mexican goalkeeping revolves around just one name. Why doesn’t the conversation go further in sports and analysis spaces? Why limit it to Malagón or Guillermo Ochoa? Why not delve into the deeper aspects of the real problem?

Throughout his history, Guillermo Ochoa is the only Mexican footballer who can boast of having played regularly in the old continent. Yes, you may argue that he went to teams with low aspirations and that he has more relegations than titles, and precisely this is the central point.

Why does no one else dare to go fight relegation over there? Why does no one else dare to earn less and play in a league with fewer spotlights? Why does no one else take on the challenge of conceding loads of goals but with the conviction to grow?

That’s why Ochoa has conceded a thousand goals. That’s why Ochoa has been relegated because if he wanted to, he could have stayed in America, or he would be at Rayados or in the MLS enjoying a career far from criticism and demands.

We haven’t realized that, to this day, neither Malagón, nor Julio González, nor Acevedo, and further back Jurado, Toño Rodríguez, and company, have made that leap that would really allow us to generate a better debate regarding the goalkeeping position.

Why doesn’t anyone talk about the poor training work with our goalkeepers? Who is responsible for producing quality goalkeepers? Are there really teams dedicated to this?

The problem isn’t Ochoa. The problem is that at 38 years old, Ochoa has little competition. Who is to blame? Ochoa… or the poor quality of our goalkeepers in the last 8-12 years?

Jaime Lozano stakes his life on every match. He stakes the future of the Mexican national team, and if he chooses the goalkeeper from Salernitana, it’s for one simple reason: because he believes he’s the best.

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