Raúl Jiménez on his World Cup chances: “If I’m not fit, I won’t go”
The Wolves forward declared that, if he does not feel fit enough to play with Mexico by 14 November, he will step aside.
Raúl Jiménez’s availability for Mexico at the World Cup remains in doubt. The Wolves forward says he is feeling physically much better after spending almost two months recovering from a hip injury. Nevertheless, has already made a decision regarding his situation, assuring that if he is not fit enough to return by 14 November, the deadline for squad lists to be submitted to FIFA, then he will step aside to let someone else take his place..
“Yes, I have thought about it (missing the World Cup). If I’m not fit to go, then I can’t go... I want to be honest with myself,” he said in an interview with ESPN’s Mauricio Ymay, at his home in Wolverhampton, England. “If I don’t feel fit... I’ve come this far, and I wish the team the best of luck. If I feel like I can play, I’ll be there.”
The Wolves star is fully aware that Gerardo Martino is expected to confirm his final list of 26 players for the World Cup a week on Monday. If he is seeing no improvement by next week, or feels that he is not in conditions to play at the World Cup, he will rule himself out and support the national team from afar.
“If the list were to be announced tomorrow, then it would be difficult. I have been improving, so still I feel that maybe I can make it. The coach is confident and has said so, he’s going to wait for me right up until the last minute,” the Mexico star added.
Regarding his recovery, he assured that it has been slow, but he is works day by day to makes advances and be ready to return as soon as possible.
“I’m doing well. It’s been a bit longer than expected. I am working with the ball, apart from the group, but I am already warming up with the team and I can do various things. To compete, I’m not ready for that just yet; but it is expected that this week it will be more integrated”, he concluded.