Football
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Mexico play hurt by sponsor interests, says ex-coach Victor Vucetich

El Tri's commercial sponsorship interests affected their performance under Miguel Herrera's direction, said ex Mexico national team coach Victor Manuel Vucetich.

Vucetich, who coached the team in 2013 for two games before being replaced by Herrera as Mexico's fourth coach in the span of three months during the summer of 2013, is reportedly under consideration to coach the team again since Herrera's sacking on Tuesday.

Vucetich said he would have to carefully consider an offer if one came.

"I don't know if they would treat me well...they have already treated me pretty bad," he told ESPN's Radio Formula.

Vucetich coached El Tri to a win vs. Panama and a loss against Costa Rica during Mexico's struggle to qualify for the World Cup in CONCACAF.

"The contracts affect any type of functionality in the game that one wants to accomplish and the project gets derailed and the processes are broken and not followed," Vucetich said. "Right now, I can't say anything. You can't measure things the way they have been measuring them and it doesn't build any trust or calm for me."

Vucetich said that the coaching staff that finally does take the reins will have to adapt to the needs of the Mexico Football Federation.

"It would be tough for the federation to adapt to a coach. The federation already has its idea and its goals and way of doing things," he said. "A couple of coaches have tried and we have seen that they have to adapt to these needs. I don't get the feeling that this is what they would have to do . In my experience, the federation and the national team must work on a project that is supported by the [Liga Mx] clubs."

The Queretaro coach said that the federation should consider the performance of the players because their commitments to their clubs affect their play throughout the year

"We have the Copa, the league, Concachampions, Libertadores, Gold Cup, Copa America," he said. "There is an entire world to program for so that they don't get overtaxed and don't get to the World Cup like they did [in 2014]. The big players get exhausted and their performance is under what was expected due to being overworked."

In September of 2013 during the heat of CONCACAF Hexagonal qualifying, Mexico changed coaches three times in one week. The federation appointed Vucetich after interim coach Luis Fernando Tena skippered a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to the United States. Tena coached just that one match. He had been named to replace beleaguered coach Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, who was axed after the team's 2-1 home loss to Honduras. Herrera took over in October of 2013 as the team headed into a last-chance World Cup qualifying international playoff. 

Herrera became interim head coach in November 2013 and was given the job full-time a month later. During his tenure, Mexico won 18 matches, drew 11 and lost seven. He was sacked two days after leading Mexico to the CONCACAF Gold Cup victory with a 3-1 win over Jamaica, the nation's first major title since 2011.

Incoming federation president Decio de Maria said Herrera was fired after a scuffle on Monday at the Philadelphia International Airport involving a TV Azteca reporter, Christian Martinoli, who had been an outspoken critic of Herrera during his tenure and with whom Herrera had a history of contentiousness.

Mexico has had six head coaches since the 2010 World Cup. Furthermore, Herrera was Mexico's 14th head coach since 1999. By comparison, the United States has had three in that span.

Critics faulted Mexico's performance at the Gold Cup, where it finished second in group play and advanced to the final only after winning two knockout-round matches with the help of late penalty kicks awarded in controversial calls.

TV Azteca is owned by Grupo Salinas, which owns Liga MX clubs Atlas and Morelia as well as the television broadcast rights in Mexico to El Tri, along with Televisa. De Maria will take over the reins at the federation for Compean beginning on Aug. 1 as federation power shifts hands.

De Maria said the federation would take its time in search of a replacement and did not announce a timeline or reveal any names. He also said he hoped to avoid having to name an interim coach.

"Regarding a coaching replacement, we have to go out and look for coaches," he said. "Whatever decision we take will be criticized and analyzed but we will make a decision that allows all of us to go to Russia in 2018."

Mexico next plays a pair of friendlies in September against Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina, followed by a crucial playoff against the United States on Oct. 9 that will decide which team goes to the 2017 Confederations Cup.

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