E-MAIL TIRO LIBRE | FOLLOW TIRO LIBRE ON TWITTER
There might be a heated rivalry between the US national team and Mexico, but that does not mean that El Tri head coach Miguel Herrera does not see MLS as a formidable league for his players.
Speaking to FutbolMLS.com's "Tiro Libre Radio," Herrera broached the topic about potentially having his players suit up for MLS clubs. Herrera was specifically asked about Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, who reportedly turned down recent interest from the Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy, and said that he has no problem with his national team players plying their trades in the United States or Canada.
"That's a decision made only and exclusively by the player and his representatives," said Herrera. "They should be looking for the best option possible, so long as the player is seeing the field. I've always said that MLS is growing, and every day it's much more solid, much stronger and more competitive, so it's an option [for players], but it is they who have to decide in the end."
The test case for Herrera's thinking will be forward Erick 'Cubo' Torres, who is under contract with the Houston Dynamo as a Designated Player but currently on loan at Chivas de Guadalajara until the summer.
Torres scored his first goal for Chivas on Tuesday in a Copa MX victory, but has struggled for playing time in league play since joining the club. He has just one appearance in the Liga MX Clausura campaign, but Herrera said it is too early yet to count out Torres from making the Mexico teams that will play in a pair of friendlies in March and the Copa America this summer.
"We'll see. The other day he came in during a Copa MX game and played very well and scored a goal," said Herrera. "He is maintaining that hunger and wants to be part of our group. He's still in the picture. We can't count him out yet. There's still another five rounds of matches in Mexico before I have to name my roster for the upcoming FIFA fixtures and two-months-and-a-half for the Copa America squad."
