Guido Pizarro reacts as Tigres complete stunning comeback vs Cincinnati in CONCACAF Champions Cup

Tigres booked their place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals after a remarkable comeback against FC Cincinnati, a result head coach Guido Pizarro said was fully deserved despite the late drama.

The Tigres head coach reiterated his trust in the squad, which delivered an emotional, end-to-end performance that held up until the final whistle.

Pizarro on Tigres’ stunning comeback

“I always say it, I have a lot of trust in my squad, a lot of trust in my players. I know the sense of belonging they have, how much they care about the club, their desire to do things the right way. It was difficult, but I fully believed we could produce a performance like today’s.

We had to dig deep at the end, but I think it’s fair, because after the game the guys played, it would have been unjust if we hadn’t advanced. So I’m very happy, and now we rest and focus on what’s next,” he said.

Gorriarán the hero for Tigres

Pizarro also highlighted the night’s hero, Fernando Gorriarán, who returned from injury and came off the bench to deliver the decisive goal that secured passage to the next round, while also recognizing other key contributors such as Rodrigo Aguirre and Ozziel Herrera.

“Regarding Gorri, he’s a player who loves the club. He’s one of the leaders, the captain, not just for what he does on the field but for how committed he is to this institution. It’s well deserved. As recently as yesterday we were still testing him. He really wanted to be involved, to help, to contribute, always without taking risks. We knew he could play, but sometimes when the legs aren’t enough, the heart takes over. He has a huge heart. All the credit goes to him.

Ozziel and Rodrigo are players who give so much to the team. Ozziel had a great game, he’s a player with enormous potential, eager to help and preparing for matches like this. The same goes for Rodrigo, who has contributed a lot since day one. He’s very humble, fully committed to the team. I’m very happy with both of them and with the whole squad,” he added.

Tigres will face the Seattle Sounders in the next round with a place in the semifinals on the line. For now, their focus shifts back to Liga MX, where they travel to face Juárez this weekend.

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