Feb 19 • 02:17 UTC 🇲🇽 Mexico Milenio (ES)

An executive tried to impose Guillermo Ochoa instead of Jesús Corona in London 2012

A Mexican football executive attempted to replace goalkeeper Jesús Corona with Guillermo Ochoa during the selection process for the 2012 Olympic Games, despite Corona's strong performance leading up to the events.

The article recounts a significant moment in Mexican football history during the 2012 Olympic Games, where the Mexican national team achieved a historic gold medal victory. Key to this success was goalkeeper José de Jesús Corona from Cruz Azul, who was chosen by coach Luis Fernando Tena as one of the senior reinforcements for the team. Corona had been enjoying an impressive career and was seen as crucial to the team’s defense.

However, controversy arose when Nicolás Navarro, the goalkeeping coach for the Mexican team, revealed that a football executive had intervened in the selection process, pushing to replace Corona with Guillermo Ochoa, who at that time was playing for Ajaccio. This executive's demand stemmed from a sense of entitlement and personal preference rather than the performance metrics of the players. Navarro justified the decision to select Corona based on his better capabilities in terms of handling crosses and overall goalkeeping skills, emphasizing that he was in top form and deserving of the opportunity.

The narrative highlights the challenges that sports teams face due to external pressures from management, which can disrupt the selection of players based on merit and performance. The incident reflects broader themes within sports governance, where personal biases may overshadow professional achievements, potentially affecting the outcomes of major sporting events.

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