GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Puebla defender Michael Orozco is back from the United States national team’s trip to Europe and prepared for Friday’s jaunt to Ronaldinho’s new team Querétaro (8 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN Deportes) in a rather different way this week.
La Franja head coach José Luis “Chelis” Sánchez Solá had his players wear wolf masks in training as an exercise in improving the team’s intensity in pressing the ball when not in possession and to forge the pack mentality in his squad.
We’ll see Friday if it pays dividends, although Ronaldinho is unlikely to debut in front of the sold out Estadio Corregidora.
Also on Friday, Atlas left back Edgar Castillo will be hoping to catch the eye of Jurgen Klinsmann when Castillo's team takes on relegation-threatened Veracruz on the road (9:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
On Saturday, young striker Alonso Hernandez will likely be on the bench for Monterrey against Chivas (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes), while Gabriel Farfan’s Chiapas host Morelia (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes 2) and Ventura Alvarado’s Club América travel to Guadalajara to face Leones Negros (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Tijuana’s American contingent – now under coach Daniel Guzmán after Cesar Farías left the club – has a difficult test against Pachuca, with Greg Garza and Joe Corona already confirmed as starters.
Garza will play his usual left back role, while Corona looks to be at the head of a midfield diamond.
Alejandro Guido and Paul Arriola are both in contention for minutes off the bench (9 pm ET, Telemundo).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
