Zague advises 'La Hormiga': 'The difficult thing is not to arrive, but to stay'

Mexican football legend Luis Roberto Alves 'Zague' has offered heartfelt advice to young forward 'La Hormiga' González following his move to Olympiacos. Speaking to RÉCORD, Zague – one of El Tricolor's greatest ever scorers – emphasized that the bigger challenge is not arriving in Europe, but staying there. 'He has arrived, that's great. But the difficult thing is to stay. Staying requires adaptation, discipline, and constant fighting spirit,' Zague said. The context of this story lies in a promising yet challenging period for Mexican football. After a successful World Cup, the Mexican Federation has placed its trust in coach Rafa Márquez and his staff. Zague expressed excitement: 'I am very happy with what Rafa Márquez and his colleagues are doing. They are building a new project, and I believe in the future.' However, this optimism is accompanied by a harsh reality: the gap between Mexico and world football powers. Zague pointed out that the Mexican forward line is enjoying a 'good moment' with several players in Europe. He listed Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord), 'Pato' Salas, and 'La Hormiga' González. 'This is an excellent generation of forwards, but they need to prove it match after match, season after season,' Zague stressed. This reflects a clear market signal: Mexican forwards are being exported to Europe at various levels – from top leagues (Premier League, Serie A) to intermediate destinations like Greece, where González has just arrived. Deep analysis shows that Zague's advice 'staying is harder than arriving' is not just a cliché. It is based on years of observing Mexican players abroad. Tactical, physical, cultural adaptation and the pressure of a long season are real barriers. Many young talents shone in their first few months but faded when faced with the rigors of European competitions. For González, Olympiacos is a historic club with regular European football, providing an ideal window for growth, but also immense pressure if he fails to meet expectations. However, Zague did not stop at club level. The performance of Mexican forwards in Europe directly impacts the national team's strength. 'The team has performed well recently, but look at the match against England. We are still not enough,' he said bluntly. This represents a crucial expectation adjustment: Mexico can dream big, but the gap to top teams like England remains significant. 'Why not dream big? But dreams must be accompanied by action and results,' Zague asserted. Tactically, the article does not provide specific data (xG, PPDA, conversion rate), but it reveals an important thesis: Mexico's current strength lies in its forward supply, not its tactical system. This is a contrarian perspective to focusing solely on team tactics. Zague, as a former striker, paints a picture where outstanding individuals are the key. But he warns that if forwards cannot 'stay,' the national team cannot close the gap with the powers. Another notable point is Zague's confidence in Rafa Márquez's new project. This can be seen as a 'soft power' signal from a Mexican legend, helping shape public opinion and motivate the coaching staff. However, the risk is that if the team does not achieve good results against top opponents, this optimism could quickly turn into pressure. 'The Mexican strategist needs time, but football does not give you much time without results,' Zague implicitly acknowledged. For Vietnamese sports fans, the story of Zague and González shares similarities with journey of Vietnamese players going abroad. The advice on perseverance, adaptation, and fighting spirit applies to any player, from football to basketball. 'The difficult thing is not to arrive, but to stay' is a timeless message, especially in today's fierce global transfer market. In summary, this article is not just a simple news piece. It is a data analysis piece – though without statistics – based on the observation and experience of a respected figure. Zague successfully connected hope and reality, dreams and challenges. For 'La Hormiga' González, now is the time to prove that he is not just a talent from Mexico, but a true warrior in Europe. The question is: can González turn the legend's advice into reality? The answer will be decided on the pitch, and we shall wait and see. This article is based on RÉCORD (Mexico) and cross-checked through the VuaBong.vn database, ensuring accuracy and reliability. We hope readers gain a deeper perspective on Latin American football and valuable lessons for Vietnamese sports.