MIAMI – Mexican national team head coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera expects his players to be consistent while getting as many minutes as possible with their clubs to be considered for future El Tri call-ups.
And Herrera said the best place for Erick “Cubo” Torres to get that is in MLS, with the Gold Cup, Copa América and other international youth tournaments around the corner for Mexico in 2015.
"Without a doubt, for his benefit and for me, [Cubo] should continue in MLS," Herrera told FutbolMLS.com in Miami moments before last week's Premios Univision Deportes gala. "It's his decision and his agent's and his family's, and what he thinks is best for him,"Herrera added. "What we want is for him to have the same activity he had this year."
The Houston Dynamo announced on Tuesday that they had come to an agreement to keep the 21-year-old in the league following the hiatus of his former team, Chivas USA, after a six-month loan spell with Chivas Guadalajara negotiated as part of his permanent transfer from that club is completed.
Herrera said the league's growth and Torres' development in a year and half with Chivas USA beneficial for the young forward. Cubo’s explosive campaign in 2014, with 15 goals in 29 appearances, allowed him to be considered for El Tri.
"I try to talk to them, make them feel good and I want them to have enough competitiveness", said Herrera, who recently signed a new deal with the Mexican Federation that will see him guiding the team to the World Cup in 2018. "I think, without a doubt, that Erick has done an outstanding job here in MLS."
"… MLS is a growing league and very strong, with very good teams and players.”
Torres, 21, joined Chivas USA on loan from Guadalajara in July 2013 and made his debut with Mexico against Bolivia in September of this year, scoring his first international goal a month later, the winning tally against Panama in a friendly.
Recently, Torres netted five goals and tied first for the golden boot in the Central American and Caribbean games, where Mexico won the gold medal.
