PASADENA, Calif. -- Who will replace Andrés Guardado in Mexico’s starting lineup? That’s a question head coach Juan Carlos Osorio was asked more than once during Wednesday’s press conference at Rose Bowl ahead of Thursday's game against Jamaica (10 pm ET, FS1, Univision).
The Colombian manager refused to give the name of the player that will take on all the responsibility to fulfill the absence of the team’s captain, who was sent off during Sunday’s 3-1 win over Uruguay for a second yellow card.
Although Osorio refused to tip his hand, he did address how he intends to assemble all the pieces needed in his starting lineup.
"There are several possibilities, yesterday we saw three, hopefully we take the right decision,” Osorio said.
“The task here it is not who will replace Andrés, but how we can replace him collectively because he is a very important player and he has specific characteristics that make him the great player he is,” he added.
Porto midfielder Miguel Layún would be the natural option to replace him as he’s been used in midfield with Jorge Torres Nilo playing behind him, and for many, this option seems most logical.
Monterrey’s midfielder Candido Ramirez or PSV’s defender Hector Moreno, who are both left-footed, are other options that fit in with the philosophy of "natural positions" that Osorio is always looking for.
"We try to find the best way to collectively fulfill the absence of Guardado…What we are looking is to keep the natural connection that exists between that player in that position, left side, and the rest, perhaps that’s the greatest concern, " Osorio added.
The physical game, speed and ability in set pieces are characteristics in Jamaica that Osorio hopes to counteract, finding the right players to manage the ball.
"Tomorrow we face a great opponent being so good in the air, as good as Uruguay was, and has other virtues like the speed and athleticism of their players. We need to select the starters first, and hope for the boys to have a great game tomorrow,” he said.
