Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said reaching the round of 16 carried special meaning after overcoming a hurdle that had eluded him in his previous spells in charge of the team.
Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Ecuador marked Mexico’s first World Cup knockout-stage victory since it last hosted the tournament in 1986, when Aguirre was a player. The 67-year-old managed the Mexico teams that were eliminated in the first knockout round at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
“It means a lot to me; I was never able to play that fifth match. It happened in South Korea and Japan [in 2002] and in South Africa [in 2010]. We had good group stages, but we couldn’t move forward,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre praised his players’ unity after first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez sealed Mexico’s fourth straight win of the tournament without conceding. “I can tell you that this team deserves what is happening,” he said. “There is a special connection with the fans and the privilege of playing a World Cup at home,” he said.