“Mexican training is non-negotiable; we need more Pachuca, more Chivas, and whether we like it or not, we need promotion and relegation. I speak from what I see and what I experienced in my countr...

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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/JuniorCDC on 2024-06-08 21:17:42+00:00.

Original Title: “Mexican training is non-negotiable; we need more Pachuca, more Chivas, and whether we like it or not, we need promotion and relegation. I speak from what I see and what I experienced in my country” - Andre Pierre Gignac

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The topic of youth development in Mexican soccer has gained relevance following the defeat of the Mexican National Team by Uruguay. Both André-Pierre Gignac and Nahuel Guzmán have spoken about what Mexican soccer lacks in terms of developing young players.

“Mexican training is non-negotiable; we need more Pachuca, more Chivas, and whether we like it or not, we need promotion and relegation. I speak from what I see and what I experienced in my country. The three most important things are: Libertadores, training, promotion, and relegation,” Gignac commented in an interview with TV Azteca.

In fact, the Tigres forward believes that having promotion and relegation is closely tied to the development of young players and discovering new talents who can play for the senior national team.

“There are second-division players who give their all to win a final, reach the playoffs, and there is no reward. The reward they can have is that a player like Marín from Chivas, who did well in the second division, gets a first-division club.

“I know many players from the third or second division who moved up (to the first division) and excelled, even making it to the French national team,” he added.

How is player development in France?

Gignac used the example of the player development system in France, specifically in the capital, where young talents are brought together at the national team’s facilities in Clairfontaine to train together, even while they continue with their club activities.

“Clairefontaine, which includes players from all over central Paris and surrounding areas, but they belong to a club and work together at the French national team training center all week; they sleep there, eat well, rest well, and all of that is part of French training.

“They start at 12 or 13 years old, but now there are children aged 9 or 10 with whom you can already identify those who can reach a training center,” said the Tigres striker.

The striker concluded that this entire process has led France to have almost two teams that can compete at the highest level, with more than 40 players to choose from for an international tournament like a World Cup or a Euro Cup.

“In France, training is essential for them. The 23 players who go to the Euro Cup and the 23 who are behind them are on par, except for Mbappé, but yes, the rest are.”