MEXICO CITY -- Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio spoke of his "profound respect" for the United States national team on the eve of the World Cup qualifier between the CONCACAF rivals, but he believes the Stars and Stripes should also be concerned about the threat Mexico can pose.
"We respect the rival," stated Osorio. "We've analyzed them and we know that they've analyzed us in games... Hopefully it'll be as difficult for them as it probably will be for us."
Osorio suggested the key to the U.S. system will be where coach Bruce Arena places Fabian Johnson and suggested the dynamism of Kellyn Acosta could mean he starts in midfield.
But the inevitable question about Christian Pulisic brought a cautious response from the Colombian.
"Pulisic is a great player and very important for them," said the Colombian coach. "In Borussia [Dortmund] he can play on either wing and now he's playing behind the two No. 9s in a structure that looks to be a 4-3-1-2... narrow in the middle in the field.
"He's a player we have to watch out for and be careful of because he has individual talent and is capable of assisting the two forwards."
Osorio has a long history in the United States, both as a coach in MLS and as a student, and his wife and two sons are U.S. citizens, but there is no doubting where his priorities lie on Sunday.
"[My family] are certainly very thankful to the United States for the opportunity it gave us, but now I represent Mexico and I'm very proud of being Mexico manager," said the former New York Red Bulls manager. "I'll do as much as I can to get the three points."
Osorio also said he can understand the mentality and passion of Mexico fans in the United States because he worked alongside them when he was a migrant in New York.
"I have friendships with Mexicans that I played with in the United States and for a period I worked as an illegal immigrant. I worked in restaurants... and in gardening, in what the majority of Mexicans work in," said Osorio.
"And I always understood the almost moral challenge of the Latinos, and concretely the Colombians, to beat the United States. It's ironic because we live there, we are thankful for the great opportunity the country gave us... but when the opportunity to compete with them comes up, we want to win."
Osorio announced that Jesus "Tecatito" Corona is out of Sunday's match and will not take part in the Confederations Cup because of an issue relating to his family. Nestor Araujo, Miguel Layun, Rafa Marquez and Andres Guardado are also out of the U.S. game with injuries, although the quartet are set to travel to Russia.
