Cult ahead Salomon Rondon has been telling FourFourTwo why the Membership World Cup has is so necessary to him.
Rondon has been in one of the best goalscoring type of his profession since becoming a member of Mexican aspect Pachuca in January 2024. Throughout all competitions, 67 appearances have yielded 36 targets for the veteran striker, who’s hopeful of including to that tally on the Membership World Cup.
Pachuca’s marketing campaign will get underway towards Pink Bull Salzburg in Cincinnati tomorrow. They then play Actual Madrid and Al-Hilal of their remaining group video games, with solely the highest two sides progressing to the knockout rounds. It guarantees to be a tricky problem.
For all of the criticism directed on the Membership World Cup’s new expanded format – its versatile qualifying standards and awkward scheduling – Rondon and Pachuca are excited to be participating, seeing this as a great probability to check themselves towards elite opposition and probably increase the profile of Liga MX. Monterrey are Mexico’s different consultant.
“It’s attention-grabbing as a result of such a event has by no means occurred in soccer historical past,” says Rondon. “For us, it’s an enormous event. Clearly, we’re representing Mexico and the CONCACAF confederation, nevertheless it’s actually good to see so many groups concerned. To be sincere, everybody is happy. We’ve to be able to play each sport like a ultimate.”
Simply reaching this level was a significant achievement for Los Tuzos, who certified by successful final yr’s CONCACAF Champions Cup in spectacular fashion. Rondon shone all through, scoring a outstanding 9 targets and being named the event’s finest participant.
In addition to consecutive hat-tricks towards Philadelphia Union and Herediano, the Venezuelan worldwide grabbed a brace within the ultimate as Pachuca beat Columbus Crew 3-0 at their dwelling floor, Estadio Hidalgo. By firing his new membership to main silverware, and a spot at each the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and Membership World Cup, Rondon grew to become a right away fan favorite.
“For me, it’s been a very good expertise,” he says. “I’ve performed in lots of groups and lots of leagues – totally different cultures and various kinds of soccer – in my profession. However when Tuzos got here to me and defined the undertaking, and what they wished from me, I used to be actually excited to come back to Mexico.
“I settled so rapidly as a result of I began taking part in and scoring targets. I’ve good chemistry with my teammates. Possibly that is the rationale that we received the CONCACAF Champions Cup final yr, which is why we’re right here.
“There have been many constructive issues round me and the membership. I’m actually pleased and grateful to Tuzos for giving me the chance to play in Mexico. My household is settled as properly. This event is one other constructive factor. We’re taking part in towards superb groups and we’ll do our greatest, as a unit, to compete.”
Though Salzburg and Al-Hilal are unfamiliar opponents, Los Tuzos do have latest expertise of going through Actual Madrid. In December, they overcame Brazil’s Botafogo and Egypt’s Al Ahly to make the ultimate of the Intercontinental Cup, the place the reigning European champions awaited. It proved a step too far as targets from Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior gave Madrid a cushty 3-0 win.
“We have been exhausted, to be sincere,” says Rondon. “They received actually simply, however this sport shall be totally different as a result of we’ve had loads of time to organize. Actual Madrid are an enormous group with superb gamers. For me, they’re the favourites to win this event, however we’ve come right here to compete towards everybody, do our greatest and benefit from the video games.”
Though each groups have modified managers since then, classes have been realized from rigorously reviewing the footage of their final encounter. “We’ve seen the video of that sport many instances. We have been late to press them they usually performed actually merely, simply one- or two-touch. They scored two targets like that.
“You be taught lots as a result of a lot of our gamers are youthful. That sort of state of affairs is new. It’s regular – the strain to play very well towards an excellent group. We did our greatest to win that ultimate, nevertheless it didn’t occur. We all know what we’ve got to do and the way we’ve got to play towards them. It’s necessary to do our greatest.”
On the age of 35, Rondon stays a robust, bustling goal man. Enjoying all world wide has served him properly. Mexico is the seventh totally different nation of an eclectic profession that had already taken in Venezuela, Spain, Russia, England, China and Argentina.
Rondon is well-known to Premier League followers after scoring 36 targets throughout spells at West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United and Everton, together with a memorable hat-trick of headers within the area of 13 minutes towards Swansea Metropolis in December 2016. He later thrived underneath Rafael Benitez throughout a season on mortgage at St James’ Park.
Now he’s dedicated to setting requirements at Pachuca and providing steerage to a squad containing a number of younger prospects, similar to teenage midfielder Elias Montiel and ahead John Kennedy, who scored a well-known extra-time winner for Fluminense within the 2023 Copa Libertadores ultimate.
“As one of many skilled gamers within the membership, my function is to assist my teammates strategy every state of affairs as a result of each sport shall be totally different. Enjoying towards big groups and superb gamers, we’ve got to take each alternative we’ve got,” says Rondon, who routinely captains the aspect in centre-back Gustavo Cabral’s absence.
“This event means lots to me. As a footballer, the chance to be a part of it, at 35 years previous, is very large. I’m actually pleased. I simply put together myself every single day like an expert. Like yearly, and each group I’ve performed for, I give 100% to assist the group – scoring targets, working arduous and attempting to pay again the arrogance they present in me.”
