COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mexico leader Rafa Marquez has forgotten about the disappointments of the past and is focusing on helping El Tri to achieve a historic result in Friday's World Cup qualifier against the United States.
Marquez was sent off in 2009 and has been involved in three of the four 2-0 defeats that Mexico has suffered in MAPFRE Stadium in World Cup qualifying, with the former Barcelona player missing out in 2013.
Come Friday, 37-year-old Atlas captain is hoping he can be part of a turning of the tide in the rivalry against the United States.
"The good thing about football is that it gives you revenge," Marquez said on Tuesday. "We've not done well here [in the past] and this is a new opportunity to trust in the group and the coach and get three important points."
Marquez has shut out the negativity of past games: "I don't remember anything" -- in a stadium that has proved a fortress for the Stars and Stripes. Instead, Marquez is looking forward with a positive mindset.
"This is a new time, almost half our team is [playing] in Europe and I think that is interesting," said Marquez.
He added that the Mexico squad has already had a talk about the necessity of changing the mentality, stressing the "enormous potential" of the players.
Marquez also refused to entertain the idea that the fact the United States hosting Mexico in Columbus is an insurmountable barrier, pointing out that the climate may not be as cold this time around as on other occasions.
"When we go to Honduras there are lots of Hondurans, when we go to Guatemala there are lots of Guatemalans and this group has shown that we can go to Honduras and win," he said.
It is a message shared by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is in a battle with Alfredo Talavera and Jesus Corona for the starting spot on Friday.
�� | También @yosoy8a atendió a los medios al finalizar nuestro entrenamiento.#ElFutbolEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/G7WYiJZWcM
- Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) November 8, 2016
"It's a question of talking on the field, of changing what has happened here," said Ochoa. "We know it won't be easy, but we know it depends on us."
There have also been suggestions Marquez should hang up his boots, but the Kaiser de Michoacan believes he still has a lot to give the national team and prefers to do so from the inside.
"It would be easy for me to retire, maybe be in my house, scratching my belly, watching and criticising," said Marquez. "In the end, my ambition to do something different and to see a better national team is why I'm here working, giving my experience, helping on and off the pitch."
Mexico arrived in Columbus on Monday afternoon and almost immediately headed to do some light training.
A total of 13 players trained under coach Juan Carlos Osorio's command on Tuesday, with a behind-closed-doors session scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.