Mexicans wait to see what Osorio will pull out of the hat

ROSTOV-ON-DON – Reuters

Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio will take charge of his side for the 50th time when it faces South Korea at the World Cup on June 23 and his past record suggests there is every chance he will field his 50th different line-up.

The old rule of not changing a winning team does not apply to the cerebral 57-year-old who likes to keep his opponents -- on this occasion a South Korean side beaten 1-0 by Sweden on June 18 -- guessing to see what he will pull out of the hat.

The Colombian, whose side stunned Germany 1-0 in its opening game in Group F on June 17 and is now looking to book its place in the last 16 with a match to spare, is renowned for his attention to detail, even when he does a simple workout on a treadmill.

Osorio told ESPN in an interview recently that, instead of simply running at a given speed or distance, he adjusts the settings up to 30 times in a 45-minute spell to make sure his heart gets the right workout.

When Hirving Lozano scored Mexico’s winner against Germany, Osorio did not celebrate - he simply sat down quietly and started writing notes in his trusty spiral notepad.

As coach, Osorio adopts a chameleon approach, changing his selection and tactics depending on the opposition.

However, his constant tinkering has not made him popular with Mexican fans, and in particular, some parts of the media.

Many feel he over-complicates and are also baffled when he gives complex answers to what are considered straightforward questions, rather than trotting out the usual football clichés.

Despite a respectable record of 32 wins, nine draws and eight defeats in his 49 matches in charge and a comfortable qualifying campaign, he was jeered at the Azteca stadium in Mexico’s farewell game against Scotland three weeks ago.

But June 17’s remarkable win, when Mexico not only beat the world champion but out-thought and out-played it, has considerably raised his stock, silencing his more vociferous critics -- at least for the time being.

Despite the constant chopping and changing, his basic philosophy remains an attacking approach, often with the back four stationed on the halfway line, plus two wingers and a single center forward.

Wing back Miguel Layun said he could never understand the criticism aimed at Osorio.
“When see someone with this kind of commitment, who works as hard as he does, you cannot explain to yourself how people are able to have these kinds of radical and tough judgement of him,” he said. “He is a genius but he does things differently. I hope he gets the credit he deserves.”