History beckons for Pachuca's Oscar Perez at Club World Cup in UAE

Matt Jones - Editor 23:02 08/12/2017
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • If he is to feature against Wydad Casablanca in the first quarter-final of the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, it will be an historic achievement for Pachuca stalwart Oscar Perez.

    There isn’t much the veteran Mexican hasn’t achieved in his 24-year playing career, but participating in this tournament would be a first.

    El Conejo (The Rabbit), as he is affectionately known, has played in three World Cups for the national side – 1998, 2002 and 2010.

    He’s also played in four Copa Americas – 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2004 – reaching the final 15 years ago where El Tricolour were defeated 1-0 by Colombia.

    But the 44-year-old was not in the Los Tuzos’ (The Gophers) sides that featured in the 2007, 2008 or 2010 Club World Cups.

    And should he line up at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday against the African champions, Perez will become the oldest player to play at the tournament – the record is currently held by another Pachuca custodian, the late Miguel Calero, who was between the Pachuca sticks, aged 39, in 2010, when the tournament was last held in the Emirates.

    And despite having amassed 56 Mexico caps and been part of three CONCACAF Gold Cup-winning sides and won a Confederations Cup with his nation, the prospect of featuring in Abu Dhabi fills Perez with passion.

    “The truth is we’re very excited, we have a big ambition.

    Pachuca have played at the Club World Cup four times before, but we want to improve on what we have done before,” said Perez, who has been on loan at Pachuca from parent side Cruz Azul since 2013.

    And he said there is no pressure on Pachuca to become the first Mexican team to reach a Club World Cup final – Necaxa (2002) and Monterrey (2012) both finished third.

    “This is actually a very beautiful opportunity and a good chance for us,” added Perez, who is Pachuca’s number one this season.

    “We want to go further, we want to make history. We are starting a new tournament, we are excited about it. And of course, we want to put the name of Mexico high, the name of Pachuca high, and take advantage of this tournament and try to make history.”

    Despite his advancing years, the Rabbit remains as agile as ever, named the keeper in the Liga MX Best XI for the Torneo Clausara (Mexico’s second stage of the league season) in the 2016 campaign – which Pachuca won 2-1 against Monterrey to qualify for the 2016/17 CONCACAF Champions League and set up their appearance in Abu Dhabi.

    In the UAE capital they will take on Morocco’s Casablanca, who beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly in last month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final for a chance to face Copa Libertadores champions Gremio in Tuesday’s semi-finals.

    The Moroccans will be making their bow in the competition and midfielder Abdeladim Khadrouf is aware of the “huge responsibility” on his and his teammates’ shoulders.

    “To participate in the Club World Cup is important for any player,” said the 32-year-old, capped 11 times for his country.

    “For me, all players and staff, for us to reach this stage was not an easy path, but we made it.

    Wydad Casablanca's players

    “It won’t be a walk in the park. It’s a huge responsibility for us which has achieved a lot. We want to keep the work up and want to be the champions of Africa and Morocco, show our talent and honour Moroccan football.”

    Khadrouf admits his side might come into the game as underdogs, but he says Pachuca will need to be wary of his side.

    He added: “I think the management has their opinions and can identify weaknesses and strengths and we focus as players what we need to do on the pitch.

    “As they (Pachuca) have some qualities they also have weaknesses so we will focus on those to make sure we are up for the game and can make the Moroccan and African fans happy.”

    Recommended