'I know what it means to win it' - Mexico's Javier Aguirre confident ahead of Gold Cup Final against USMNT

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre is no stranger to the magnitude of a Gold Cup final. And ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the United States, the veteran coach made one thing clear: his team is locked in.

“I know what it means to win this tournament,” Aguirre said. “The team is focused, serious, and hungry. We’re approaching this final with real determination.”

This will be El Vasco’s second Gold Cup Final at the helm of the Mexican national team. His previous appearance came 16 years ago, in 2009 - also against the U.S. - when Mexico claimed a memorable 5-0 victory.

Now, with a different generation of players and a different kind of pressure, Aguirre is once again tasked with leading El Tri to regional glory. Mexico is chasing its 10th Gold Cup title and a successful defense of the trophy they won in 2023. Meanwhile, the U.S. will try to reclaim the crown for the first time since 2021.

Mexico striker Santiago Giménez shared a lighthearted yet heartfelt comment about Aguirre, referring to him as a sort of “grandfather figure” within the squad due to the age gap between the veteran manager and his players.

“Javier is like our grandpa. He’s a man with so much experience, and we really listen to him. He gives us advice, shows us affection, and has built something special - we’re like a family now, and that’s thanks to him,” the striker said.

Meanwhile, center back César Montes also spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s final. Montes has been a surprising offensive asset, scoring three goals in this Gold Cup.

“I’ve been fortunate to score a few goals," he said. "Some teams sit back with just one up top, which makes it hard to break through. One of our strengths is set pieces, and scoring that way forces teams to open up. I’m happy to help, but my main goal is to keep a clean sheet.”

Elsewhere, Raúl Jiménez took a moment to pay tribute to former Wolverhampton teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away recently in a car accident.

“He was a great teammate. We spent two years together at Wolves, sharing some important achievements. We stayed in touch even after he left. It’s devastating news - really tough to take in. He was a great friend,” said Jiménez, visibly emotional.

Edson Álvarez and Jesús Gallardo will join Andrés Guardado and Guillermo Ochoa as the only Mexican players to appear in four Gold Cup finals - if they play Sunday.