Bora Milutinovic might be as well-versed in CONCACAF as any coach in the game today, and he has weighed in on who he thinks are the favorites to win this summer's Gold Cup.
A former manager of the US national team, Mexico, and several other countries in the CONCACAF region, Milutinovic has tipped the Americans as most likely to lift the Gold Cup this month.
The US won the most recent tournament back in 2013 by defeating Panama, but the 74-year-old Serbian believes Jurgen Klinsmann's side will still be keen on making amends for the 4-2 loss it suffered to rivals Mexico in the final four years ago when more of the top players from each nation were brought in.
"The logical favorites are the United States because they play at home and because they are looking for revenge for the game they lost in Los Angeles," Milutinovic told ESPNFC.com
The US have won four of the last seven Gold Cups dating back to 2002, and Mexico has won the other three. Regardless, Milutinovic could see another nation prevailing in this edtion of the Gold Cup given how tough, improved, and competitive CONCACAF is these days.
"It would be a lack of respect to say that other teams don't have a chance," said Milutinovic. "You have the United States, but then Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras all have teams that are very capable."
"Times change, but other teams exist and what makes football so pulsating is that every team can win," he added, "even if Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica have a better chance than the others."
Even so, Milutinovic's pick is still the US, who open the tournament on Tuesday against Honduras (9:30 pm ET, Fox Sports 1, UniMás) at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
