MEXICO CITY, Jan 18 - Former Real Madrid and
Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez is under pressure to stop his
personal attacks on national team coach Ricardo La Volpe.
Mexico Football Federation (FMF) president Alberto De La
Torre and several first team players on Monday appealed to
Sanchez to leave La Volpe in peace.
The pair have been rivals since they were on opposite sides
during their playing days.
Sanchez, who has made it clear he wants the job for himself,
has stepped up his often vitriolic outbursts since leading UNAM
to their second successive Mexican championship title in
December.
Last week, Sanchez predicted that he would be invited to
coach Mexico at the 2006 World Cup once they had qualified.
Referring to La Volpe as "the other one", Sanchez said he
would be more attractive to potential sponsors than the
Argentine-born incumbent.
On Monday, Sanchez was at it again as he told reporters:
"I'm asking for them not to waste any more time because I know
the idiosyncrasies of the Mexican footballer and I know how to
motivate them to achieve our goals."
LONG-TERM PROJECT
But De La Torre told Sanchez he was wasting his energy and
backed La Volpe.
"I don't believe that attacking the position you want for
yourself is the way," de la Torre said.
"We've committed ourselves to a four-year project with La
Volpe which we're trying to stick with for the good of Mexican
football and I believe the results are going according to plan."
La Volpe took over following the 2002 World Cup and has had
mixed results.
Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2003 and beat Argentina
at last year's Copa America, but then crashed 4-0 to Brazil in
the quarter-finals.
However, they cruised through the preliminary stages of the
CONACAF World Cup qualifiers, winning all eight games.
Mexico, who face Costa Rica on February 8 or 9 as they kick
off the final round of the CONCACAF qualifiers, began a
three-day training camp on Monday with several players standing
up for the coach.
"I believe that Hugo's time will come but Ricardo's in
charge now and should be given continuity," said midfielder
Jaime Lozano.
Striker Jared Borgetti added: "All this achieves is to
create a bad atmosphere."
La Volpe has tried not to get involved since taking the
Mexico job.
"He's an idol, an international figure and his opinion is
valid," he said.
"I'm a professional who works hard, like he does, and I
believe I must have done something right to have got here."