Mexico's Ochoa: Talking Will Be Done On The Field

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa said that, while he felt El Tri has the better side than the United States, they needed to demonstrate that during Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match against the Americans.

“We need to focus on playing - the talking will be done in the field,” a confident Ochoa told reporters in the wake of the Hexagonal match up between archrivals the Unites States and Mexico.

Mexico find themselves four points behind the U.S. and, perhaps more importantly, one point behind third-place Honduras. A Mexico win would slice the gap between Mexicans and Americans to one point and could even see El Tri overtake Honduras for third place.

But all that movement begins with a victory.

“It is fundamental that we win, we have to win, anyway possible; one-nil or with more authority but win and get the points, that is the only way that we will show that we are still atop the CONCACAF,” continued the Club America goalkeeper.

“It is a very important match with three very important points on the line, it is forbidden to lose this game,” reiterated Ochoa who is confident that the home field advantage will play an important factor in the hexagonal match-up. “We have an advantage; our fans, the heat, the altitude, will obviously be a factor which is why I say that the match will be very different than the one we played at Columbus and that is what we need to take advantage of.”

Ochoa was in goal against the U.S. in the Gold Cup final and had not played against the Americans prior. Still, having been on the bench for US-Mexico games before, Ochoa had a front-row seat of the rivalry.

“Playing against the United States has a different taste because there will always be a rivalry and the situation creates a distinct taste, the people are aware of this and want Mexico to win, it is a classic match-up for us and it is forbidden to lose. It is the type of match that no one wants to lose,” explained Ochoa.

For Ochoa there will be no surprises from the United States, when they meet at the Azteca stadium, and know what the Tricolor has to do in order to get the win.

"The United States does not change their style; they always maintain a form of playing, so we must maintain our concentration because they will wait for us to commit mistakes. That is why we must play a perfect game, without giving away anything, because now more than ever they will not change their playing style. They have learned their lesson at the Gold Cup and that will make the game much more complicated,” concluded Ochoa.