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Monterrey return home with heads held high
- CF Monterrey fell to a 2-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 at the Club World Cup
- Despite defeat, Rayados won plenty of admirers during the tournament
- Head coach Domenec Torrent reflects on his "pride" at their performances
The sentiment was unanimous. Despite falling to Borussia Dortmund and bowing out of the FIFA Club World Cup™, the CF Monterrey players left Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with their heads held high after going toe-to-toe with one of Europe’s powerhouses. They left the pitch proud to have showcased the competitive spirit that defines the Mexican club.
“We don’t like to lose,” midfielder Oliver Torres told FIFA post-match. “But if there’s such a thing as the right way to lose, I think we showed how that is done. We gave everything and competed against a great team. We had the courage to fight back, to keep pushing. We created chances and we played a good match. It hurts to lose, but this performance should give us confidence for the future. If we compete like this, we’ll be very hard to beat.”
The night in Atlanta had threatened to quickly spiral. Just 25 minutes into the match, the Germans were up 2-0 thanks to a Serhou Guirassy brace. “The devil’s in the detail. They hurt us with two quick-fire attacks. They got the better of us because of small details. Against top players in matches like this, little mistakes cost you. It felt like they were superior in the first half because of the two goals, but we were always in the game,” said central midfielder Torres.
But Monterrey would not be kept down. Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa took charge, driving forward with the ball and threading passes, troubling Dortmund’s defence. Jesus Corona, affectionately known as Tecatito, managed to create danger in one-on-one duels, forcing Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into key saves to deny the Mexican winger and Deossa. “I think we approached the game really well. We went out to play them as equals. Their goalkeeper reacted quickly to stop some good shots,” said midfielder Jorge Rodriguez.
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Head coach Domenec Torrent made some tactical adjustments ahead of the second half, with Sergio Canales dropping deeper to build up play from the back. The Spanish No10 took control, launching passes in behind Dortmund’s defensive line to feature Corona’s and German Berterame’s explosive pace. “I'm happy with our second-half performance. I think the guys played very well. We weren’t playing just any team, and I think we dominated, not just in terms of possession, which I don’t care much about, but in terms of the chances we created. We’re disappointed that we lost, but as a coach, my job is to analyse and I saw a lot I liked,” Torrent reflected.
Berterame’s lightning strike to reduce the arrears early in the second half epitomised Monterrey’s fighting spirit. The Mexican side kept faith and dominated the second half, ending the match with 14 shots to Dortmund’s six. “We gave it our all,” said Rodriguez. “I’m sure we’ve left quite an impression because we kept pushing until the end. It’s a shame things didn’t go our way, but we played very well and we’re leaving with our heads held high. We just lacked the goal. It’s a pity we couldn’t convert our chances. The goalkeeper stopped some great shots. We dominated but sometimes the ball finds the back of the net and sometimes it doesn’t. Sergio’s header at the end was so close...”
It will likely have been a sleepless night for the players, the fans who travelled to Atlanta and the millions of viewers who rode the emotional wave from home. Sergio Ramos, who so often swoops in to save the day, nearly forced extra time with a 90th minute header just wide of Kobel’s goal. Football, as they say, is a game of inches. “We gave every last drop. We fought until the end. We’re disappointed, but proud of what we’ve achieved. We’ve shown that we can compete with anyone,” said Berterame.
Despite the elimination heartbreak, Monterrey will return home with their reputation enhanced after their trip to the United States. The Mexicans came into the tournament with Torrent officially appointed only 21 May. The Spanish tactician and former assistant to Pep Guardiola at FC Bayern München and Manchester City had an immediate impact on the team: “He’s given us the confidence to play our game. We’re more organised and a much more solid team now. This has been a wonderful experience for us. We’ve proven to ourselves what we’re capable of, and although we’ve been knocked out of this tournament, we’ll carry that with us going forward,” Colombian defender Stefan Medina told FIFA post-match.
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Rayados had navigated a tough group, drawing with Argentinian giants CA River Plate and Italian powerhouses FC Internazionale Milano, before thrashing an already eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds to reach the Round of 16, where they fought valiantly against Dortmund until the final whistle. “We leave this tournament with our heads held high,” said Medina.
“We gave it our all against a mighty opponent. We didn’t reach our goal but we can be proud. We’ve shown we can compete with anyone and that’ll be our takeaway. We wanted to go the distance, but we played really well. Hopefully the fans feel proud of us and the way we gave it our all.”
“We knew this tournament was an important one for us,” added Torres. “We leave here stronger. We’ve shown that Mexican football is growing and Rayados are doing a great job. We created a lot of chances against a top team. We have to build on this.”
Though the journey ends here, Monterrey will return to Mexico with a renewed identity and belief. Torrent now faces the task of maintaining their competitive edge on the domestic front. “When you lose you’re not happy, but I think the guys played very well. We were better than Dortmund at many points. We’re Rayados, we want to win. I’m proud of how we played. We’re a cohesive unit but now we have to show this level in the Mexican league, which is now our focus.”
