soccer
Tata Martino and Jorge Sampaoli fight over Tecatito Corona
Tata Martino has named Tecatito Corona in his provisional World Cup squad but the Sevilla coach rules him out: “He had a very big injury and advancing his evolution would be risky. I don’t see that possibility.”
Mexico coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino ignored the recommendations of Sevilla’s medical team before naming Tecatito Corona in his provisional 31-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar. The Sevilla winger broke his ankle two months ago and hasn’t yet returned to training with his club, just three weeks before the world’s biggest sporting event gets underway.
Jorge Sampaoli: “I can’t see how there’s any way Tecatito Corona will be ready for the World Cup”
And Jorge Sampaoli, Corona’s club manager, was less than optimistic about his player’s chances of going to Qatar: “Tecatito is progressing day by day. But he is due to return to training on 1 or 2 December. So I can’t see how there’s any way he’ll be ready. I’m going by what the doctors have told me. He’s making good progress but he had a very serious injury and moving his return date forward would be very risky,” said the Argentinian coach.
Sampaoli was in charge of home nation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and saw his side lose in the round of 16 to France, who went on to win the tournament. He knows how important the competition is for every player but insists that Corona won’t be fit. “I know he’d love to go to the World Cup – and Mexico would like that too – but there’s nothing I can do. It’s up to the doctor to determine whether he’ll be able to play or not.”
In the next few days, Corona is expected to be return to training at Sevilla’s Ciudad Deportiva, which will undoubtedly lead to further debate and controversy, at least until Martino names his final squad for the World Cup. How far the Mexico coach is willing to take his fight with Sevilla remains to be seen.