OneFootball
Seamus Leonard·5 April 2020
OneFootball
Seamus Leonard·5 April 2020
Luis Fernando Tena and Oribe Peralta have reminisced about Mexico’s historic Olympic gold medal win at the London 2012 Olympics.
Chivas manager Tena was in charge of the El Tri U23 side, while Peralta led the line and scored four goals in six games.
Speaking on a Chivas podcast, the coach recalled that he agonised over whether to include Raúl Jiménez or Alan Pulido in the 18-man squad.
“We came with eight players suspended by ourselves for indiscipline. We had to make the list for the Olympics , and we could only register 18, but only three older ones,” TUDN reported Tena telling listeners.
“The most difficult decision we had was to choose between Raúl Jiménez and Alan Pulido, who had had a great Toulon Tournament.
“There was only one place left. In the end we chose Raúl and the story is already known.”
Two of Peralta’s goals in London came in the famous 2-1 victory over Brazil in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The striker felt that he and that team were blazing a trail for future Mexican generations to follow.
“I believe and am convinced that one of the things that people are going to do is follow your example,” Peralta – who was a Santos Laguna player at the time – said.
Peralta controversially joined The Flock from América before the 2019 Apertura, while Tena was appointed manager a few months later last September.