Miguel Herrera questions the participation of Edson Álvarez in the World Cup
"El Piojo" believes that in the World Cup there should be no advantages and that Érik Lira may be a better option than Edson Álvarez
Edson Álvarez did not have a brilliant season with Fenerbahçe. Despite this, El “Machín” has enough experience and hierarchy to be taken into account by Javier Aguirre. However, Miguel Herrera believes that in a World Cup there should be no advantages. “El Piojo” bets more on Érik Lira.
Edson Álvarez had some physical problems during the season that kept him off the field for several months. This is why “Machín” does not come to this World Cup with a significant load of matches.
In the midst of this context, Miguel Herrera considers that a starting lineup should include the players who are best prepared. The weight of names must be left aside. “El Piojo” has experience in World Cups and explains that no advantages should be given.
"The World Cup gives you three games, you really have three games. You can't think about the fourth or fifth because if not, you go home early. You have to use those who are physically better, who are at 100, or a player who you know is going to give you 100% of himself for a certain period of time," Herrera said in a statement released by Récord.
As an alternative to Edson Álvarez, Miguel Herrera proposes Érik Lira. The Cruz Azul footballer was one of the most outstanding players in Liga MX. “El Piojo” believes that Lira can assume the role of the Fenerbahçe footballer.
“If you are talking to me about Edson's case, I believe that Lira is in an ideal moment, she is going through an extraordinary moment,” he said.
Edson Álvarez's weight
Miguel Herrera considers that Edson Álvarez has other functions within the Mexican team's locker room. The role of leader of “Machín” is something that has made him an immovable footballer within El Tri.
"The advantage that Edson has is that he is the captain, the leader, the one who had direct communication with the coach (...) There may be a little doubt in Javier about how Edson is going to get to these preparation games for the first match. I think that if he doesn't see it 100%, he is going to opt for Lira," he concluded.
Edson Álvarez had a season in which he only played 18 games. That is a very low figure for what it had been accumulating in Europe. Wearing the Fenerbahçe shirt, “Machín” played 1,126 minutes on the field (just over 11 complete games). Álvarez only contributed 1 assist in the campaign.