Luis Chávez admits he has felt uncomfortable in Russia

Luis Chávez moved to Russia last summer to fulfill one of his dreams: to play in Europe. The Mexican midfielder swapped Pachuca for Moscow Dynamo at the start of August - paying his own release clause ($6 million) to experience a different kind of football. But just two and a half months after arriving in the Russian capital, he has admitted that not everything has been great.

Tough challenge

In statements made to TUDN, following Mexico’s 2-0 friendly win over Ghana this weekend, Chávez spoke about his brief time in Russian soccer: “I’ve felt good,” he said. “But I have not yet shown my best. I haven’t been at 100 percent. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable for the league itself or because I haven’t connected with my team mates yet; but I think it helps me to be here, to develop and for me to get out of my comfort zone and learn things that help me grow as a player”.

Chávez has made a total of eight appearances for Dynamo in the league and Cup and has been on the end of some criticism although he says he does not pay much attention to it. He insists that his time Moscow should be evaluated on conclusion of his contract in 2027. “At the end of the day you are always going to be judged, but let’s wait a little - you cannot judge without first having tried. I will try to give my best and time will tell if I succeeded or not,” he argued.

Two assists

The midfielder shone for Mexico against Ghana, supplying the passes for both of the team’s goals. He admitted that he wasn’t sure that he was going to figure in Jaime Lozano’s starting line-up as ‘Jimmy’ does not give many clues in training about the team he will field. “The boss doesn’t give a clear picture for the week ahead, so I thought there was a possibility that I wasn’t going to play, he explained. “I prepared myself as always nevertheless and I think I did well today”.

Mexico are next in action on Tuesday, when they face Germany in the second friendly of the international break, in Philadelphia.