Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa eager to take Granada chance

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is hoping he can get his career back on track after joining Granada on loan from Malaga.

Ochoa, 31, joined Malaga from French side Ajaccio after impressing at the 2014 World Cup, but failed to make a league appearance in his first season in Spain and featured only 11 times in La Liga.

The goalkeeper sealed a switch to Granada earlier this month and said he always expected his move to Malaga could be tough.

"It was a gamble that wasn't as successful as expected but too bad," Ochoa told L'Equipe. "Being the first Mexican goalkeeper to play in Europe, I knew that I would encounter some difficulties.

"It's not because one door closes that I'm going to give up."

Despite playing so little over the past two seasons, the former Club America keeper does not think he is starting from scratch.

"No, everything I went through serves me in terms of experience," he said. "I'm 31 -- it's a very good age for a keeper. I'm only at the halfway stage of my career."

Ochoa is happy to have remained in the Spanish top flight, albeit with a side that battled to avoid relegation last season, and his goal is still to end up at one of the top clubs in Europe.

"First of all, it's to have a good season at Granada and to fulfil the objectives of the club," he told L'Equipe. "But yes to manage to make the jump to a team that's playing at the top end of a big league, who is battling to win titles, it's a dream that I have.

"Staying in Spain also allows me to get a European passport, which should make things easier for me."

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