Guillermo Ochoa offers frank assessment of Mexico's current situation | OneFootball

Guillermo Ochoa’s 100th cap for Mexico was supposed to be a momentous occasion for the goalkeeper, but his side’s performance against Argentina left him feeling frustrated.

El Tri were beaten 2-0 by La Albiceleste in Córdoba and the two sides will meet again in another friendly on Tuesday.

But until a permanent successor to former coach Juan Carlos Osorio is appointed, Ochoa believes Mexico can’t be expected to compete with the likes of Argentina.

“This national team right now doesn’t have a path, a direction,” Ochoa told reporters.

“We need a coach to come in and bring stability and tranquility and prepare for the immediate future. We saw today that the youngsters can compete. You see in front of you young [Argentine] players with a lot of talent that play in big clubs.

“That’s the small difference. The experience and development because of where they play is multiplied and is greater than that of our youngsters.”

Gerardo Martino has been strongly linked with the vacant manager’s post but Ochoa believes in order for Mexican football to progress, more Mexican players need to be exported to Europe.

“The Mexican national team has to open Mexico’s eyes,” added the Standard Liège goalkeeper.

“We aren’t like Argentina or Brazil that have enough players for three national teams. We have max 15 or 20 players [in Europe].

“Other teams like Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela have players all over the world. We can’t reach those levels. Those of us in Europe are fighting, trying to make it, sacrificing things, but they say ‘You don’t play.’ Do you prefer them to return to Mexico and play or stay and fight to represent the country well?

“We all know where the best and most demanding football is and what we have to do to grow.”

But despite his frustrations, the 33-year-old says he’s delighted to have reached a landmark century of caps for the national team.

“I’m happy and proud of that number, it’s not been easy to reach it and [I’m] enjoying it despite the result,” he said.

“When you are a football player, you dream about playing in your national team and the number 100 is special.”