South American soccer icon apprehensive about “tough” Liga MX challenge
Inter Milan VP Javier Zanetti says Mexicans Monterrey will offer the Nerazzurri a stern test in their Club World Cup opener.
Inter Milan could be crowned Champions League winners this weekend, but the Nerazzurri’s attention is also turning to the Club World Cup, which kicks off next month. The Italians face Liga MX club Monterrey in their first match of the tournament, on June 17 in Pasadena, California.
“Mexican teams are tough”
Javier Zanetti, Inter’s Argentinian vice-president and legendary former full-back, was this week asked about facing River Plate at the Club World Cup, as the Buenos Aires club is also in Group E. However, Zanetti initially focused on Monterrey, noting that Liga MX teams make for challenging opponents.
“We start with Monterrey - Mexican teams are a tough proposition,” Zanetti told an interview with ESPN Argentina. “We take it one game at a time. “And I’m sure the last match against River, given the culture we Argentinians have, won’t be easy at all.”
“We have a good squad and we will compete”
As Inter gear up for Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, Monterrey’s players have returned from a short break and have begun training for the Club World Cup, under new head coach Domènec Torrent.
Announced as Martin Demichelis’s successor last week, Torrent vowed at his unveiling to lead a competitive Monterrey team into their opener.
“The first match [of the Club World Cup] will be tough, but we’ll look to compete with Inter by playing our game and preparing well for it day by day,” the Spaniard told reporters. “It’s a strong opponent for the first game, but we have a good squad and we will compete.”
Monterrey’s roster includes international stars like Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales and Óliver Torres. While the five-time Mexican champions are allowed to sign players ahead of the tournament in the United States, no new additions have been made yet to Torrent’s ranks.
When is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
The first Club World Cup to be played in an expanded, 32-team format, the tournament is to be held from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
The event will be hosted in 12 cities across the U.S., with the final to be staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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