Ricardo Osorio is an icon of Mexican soccer, and is as good an authority as anyone to talk about CF Monterrey’s current form - in his role as ambassador for the Rayados - as well as this year’s Leagues Cup 2023. In an exclusive interview with _leaguescup.com_, the former defender gave his thoughts on the team’s form under Argentinian manager Fernando Ortiz, about Lionel Messi’s arrival in North America, and the future of the tournament.
Osorio is currently traveling with the CF Monterrey squad during their Leagues Cup campaign, and was pleased to see that his club was one of only two LIGA MX teams to remain in the race to be crowned champions after the final on August 19.
During his playing career, the former defender turned out for Cruz Azul, Stuttgart in Germany, Club Querétaro, as well as Rayados. He also had the honor of representing his country in two World Cups - 2006 in Germany, and 2010 in South Africa. In those tournaments, he notably had the chance to face Messi on the pitch.
Leagues Cup: What are your impressions of this summer’s Leagues Cup tournament so far?
Ricardo Osorio: I’ve been surprised since the start, because I wasn’t expecting it to be this big. It’s been very beneficial, both for Mexican and American teams, to reach out to people. The level of play has improved a lot. I think the games are at a very good level, and that this could be a watershed moment for this tournament to continue in the future.
LC: How do you think soccer in the region has been impacted by the arrival of world-famous stars like Lionel Messi at Inter Miami CF and Carlos Vela at LAFC?
RO: These players are in a whole different league, they’ve come here to compete and they’re in great form. You realize that Messi hasn’t come for a stroll in the park, he’s come to work hard and he’s loving it. Meanwhile, Rayados have reached this round and have seen off some great teams on their way. Now we’re facing Carlos Vela’s team [quarter-final against Los Angeles FC this Friday]. It’s going to be a great game, right?
LC: What do you expect from tonight’s game and are you prepared to give a prediction?
RO: Honestly, I think it’ll be a very even game. The two teams will come out to play. Fans are really happy with Vela and they like him a lot. This means that he’s feeling very happy as well. This helps a lot, in that his team helps him a lot and backs him up well. But I think it’ll be a 2-1 or 3-1 win for Rayados.
LC: We know that you’ve faced Messi at club level as well as on the international stage. If you had to name your top three players you’ve faced, who would you include?
RO: Whenever I played against Leo, both in the Champions League and at the World Cup, there was always a lot of passion. Every time I’ve faced Argentina and Barcelona, it was a good match. I think I would put Ronaldinho, Messi, and I didn’t face [the Brazilian] Ronaldo, but I think the third would be [Luis Figo].
LC: Let’s get back to Leagues Cup. What benefits do you think playing in this tournament will bring to Rayados, and what do you make of the style of play?
RO: Leagues Cup is going to help a lot, and that will be the case for both Rayados and Tigres. These are two very strong teams that are building their history up, and it’s that history that will get young fans to start supporting the teams. I think it’s going to help a lot in terms of gaining some authority. It’s a new tournament where there’s a lot of expectation. A lot of teams there don’t have the same pressure as Rayados, which is why I believe some games have had so many goals. With CF Monterrey, the pressure to win is always there.
LC: Looking at the Rayados roster, the arrival of Sergio Canales stands out. How do you think he will impact the team?
RO: I think a signing from Europe is always a plus. There’s always something extra that you can bring in from over there. He’s a left-footed player with great vision. He’s able to find the spaces - in these kinds of games, there are a lot of them. He looks very good to me, he’s a great player. He’s a great person. He’s coming here as something of a star player, but I don’t think all of the pressure should be on him. He had a great season last year, now he’s going to perform even better. I think we’ve built a good squad. You also have the young players who will get opportunities to grow. I think we have a very strong squad.
LC: How have you interacted with fans during Leagues Cup and how have American crowds reacted to soccer?
RO: Here, people experience sports like it’s a show. I like the American approach because they paint themselves, they bring their jerseys, their drums, and they start to chant. In Latin America we’re used to something else. In America they understand fútbol, or “soccer” as they call it, and they’re really getting into it. I think that in about ten years football is going to be very popular, like baseball, American football and basketball.
LC: Do you think that Rayados and Club Querétaro are under pressure, given they’re the last LIGA MX teams standing at Leagues Cup?
RO: The pressure is the same that we always have when it comes to our desire to win. But in terms of Mexico versus the United States, I don’t think there’s any pressure. All wehave is the pressure in terms of winning and trying to lift another trophy.
Will Rayados manage to add another line to their honors list at Leagues Cup 2023?
