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Coach Martino lavishes Raul Jimenez with praise

By Thomas Buckley

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 19: Doneil Henry #15 of Canada fights for the ball against Raul jimenez #9 of Mexico in the second half during group play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on June 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 19: Doneil Henry #15 of Canada fights for the ball against Raul jimenez #9 of Mexico in the second half during group play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on June 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Mexico’s No. 9 had a breakout year in the Premier League and has established himself as El Tri’s No. 1 striker.

Team Mexico coach Gerardo Martino is high on Raúl Jimenez and he made that clear this week, calling the Wolverhampton star “our most important striker.”

Speaking to reporters before Wednesday’s game against Canada, “Tata” said he was convinced that Jiménez would be his one and only No. 9.

“Raúl is our most important striker,” he said. “And I’m not just talking about (the Gold Cup roster), I am talking about Mexican soccer in its entirety – at home and abroad.”

Most soccer writers translated Martino’s comments to infer that “Chicharito” Hernández was no longer El Tri’s top striker.

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“Tata” went on to say that Raúl doesn’t even have to be the top goal-scorer “as long as he continues to play the way he has and we keep scoring goals.”

Against Canada, Jimenez would prove exactly what coach Martino was saying. Although Raúl did not score in Mexico’s 3-1 win, he participated in all three goals.

In minute 40, Jimenez moved toward net as Uriel Antuna prepared to send a cross in from wide right. The pass was deflected by a Canadian defender, but Jimenez reacted quickly to the rebound and flicked a quick shot on net from an angle. Goalie Milan Borjan blocked the shot but the ball fell at the feet of Roberto Alvarado who deposited the ball in the back of the net.

In minute 54, Jimenez forced a turnover in the Canada end and Andrés Guardado gathered in the loose ball and let fly from 25 meters to push Mexico’s lead to 2-0.

Then, only 2 minutes after Canada had cut the lead in half, Jimenez beat his marker to a long pass from defender Diego Reyes and headed it right into the path of Antuna who broke free down the right side before feeding Guardado for the clincher.

To be honest, Jimenez has not been clinical with his finishing in El Tri’s first two Gold Cup matches, but his work rate is impressive. His willingness to press and chase separates him from other strikers who tend to wait for teammates to win possession. Raúl hustles up front and drops deep to help on defense when necessary.

On offense, the striker fights for position well, moves to create space, even setting up wide to present for passes or provide teammates with openings through the middle.

Part of Raúl’s lack of precision can be attributed to unfamiliarity with teammates. Jimenez never played with right winger Antuna until this summer, but the two have given a hint of what could be in store for Mexico fans during the upcoming World Cup qualification cycle.

Although Jimenez and Antuna (as well as left wing Roberto Alvarado) could use more game time to fine-tune their offensive interaction and communication, it would not be a surprise if Raúl is left on the bench for Saturday’s final group stage match against lowly Martinique. Such a move would give the striker a few extra day’s rest before the knockout stage which could result in 3 games in 9 days, if El Tri were to reach the final.

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