While Guardado is trying to regain his health and work his way back onto the national team, this might seem as a hindrance. But Guardado said he is happy to be so highly regarded.
“I take it as a compliment,” Guardado told Mexican daily Record. “It’s good that my manager confides in me and I know he considers me an important part of my team and that’s why he wants me to be healty. That’s how I take it.”
Still, it’s not Lotina’s decision how much Guardado plays.
“Obviously who decides if I play with the national team is Jose Manuel De La Torre,” he said. “He dictates how much time I play and not Lotina. Each one of the two should have their roles clearly defined and should have the freedom to decide how many minutes players will play.”
Guardado, who has had an up-and-down time with the national team over the last two years due to injury and managerial decisions,
“I’m not coming here with the mentality of taking care of myself. I’m coming here with the idea to give my best to the national team,” he said. “Chepo (De La Torre) will decide the amount of minutes I remain on the field.”
Guardado was injured in early 2009 and missed a World Cup qualifying game against the United States in February of that year. He was also marginalized at the World Cup by then-coach Javier Aguirre’s tactical decisions but was injured at the beginning of 2010 and missed time with El Tri as well.
“Everyone knows that injuries have hampered me throughout my career,” he said. “But I’m not beating myself up. It’s just things that happen in soccer. You just have to keep going forawrd and know that when I’m healthy I’ll be with the national team and that my club considers me an important player.”
Excerpt from:
Guardado Not Holding Back With El Tri