We Mexicans can go further because we are tenacious: Bernardo Cueva

▲ Bernardo Cueva was the sports intelligence coordinator for Guadalajara. Photo @BerCuevaM

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a11

Bernardo Cueva, a member of Chelsea's coaching staff, is quietly working on improving the quality of his set pieces. Despite his high demand among those in charge of other areas of the club, the Mexican born in the Providencia neighborhood of Guadalajara prefers not to draw attention to himself. Coach Enzo Maresca praised his work for adopting a distinct, effective methodology, which consists of believing more in the player than in the game. "Since the tournament began, we've found another alternative to attacking plays, and it's working ," the Italian noted, referring to the goals—three of a total of 17—the Blues scored from free kicks.

With the conquest of the first Club World Cup expanded to 32 participants, Cueva recognizes that there are less romantic reasons behind a trophy, many obstacles overcome , sacrifice, constant preparation, as well as certain prejudices related to previous editions of the World Cup. They say that Mexicans cannot make it past the fourth or fifth match, but if there were eight we would play them, because we are tenacious , maintains the former sports intelligence coordinator of Guadalajara (2017-2020), proud that others remember his first years in Mexico and the League, Cup and Concacaf titles he won with the red and whites.

The image of the Jalisco-born analyst with the tricolor flag draped over his shoulders while FIFA officials and security at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey organized the awards ceremony led by U.S. President Donald Trump circulated on family WhatsApp groups, Instagram posts, and other social media platforms. "It's always an honor to represent my country ," he said in a video shared by fans who waited outside the home of the New York Giants to get his signature. "I try to inspire young people because we can go further, and this is proof of that ."

During his five years in Europe, Cueva worked in strategy preparation, opponent analysis, and game model development, first at Brentford and later at Chelsea, where he took over as head of the set-piece and set-piece department. His level of knowledge led him to collaborate with the Norwegian national team's expert group. Chelsea gave a masterclass in how to win a match with game plans that counter the opponent. "Anyone who thinks that's a weak position doesn't understand anything ," Mexican coach of Antigua and Barbuda, Jacques Passy, emphasizes about his 38-year-old colleague.

Accused of overloading a schedule to the limit, the first 32-team Club World Cup saw the Londoners secure a 3-0 victory in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. Although the tournament was viewed with suspicion from the outset by footballers' associations and national leagues, particularly in Europe, FIFA is determined to keep it going. "It is already the most successful club competition in the world ," declared the world's top football official, Gianni Infantino, placing it above the UEFA Champions League with its nearly $2.1 billion in revenue .

The final, in which the 38-year-old Mexican, with no professional playing experience, received the champion's medal from the President of the United States, brought together two European powerhouses, including the reigning Champions League champion. The World Cup also enjoyed the fervor of international fans, especially South Americans, and witnessed exciting moments from teams like Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and, above all, the Brazilian representatives. Fluminense, leading the pack, eliminated European runners-up Inter Milan on their way to the semifinals.

Given the enthusiasm generated in the country, Brazil has already submitted its bid to host the next edition of the tournament, scheduled for 2029. "It feels great to be world champion ," Cueva confesses. The future also awaits him.

▲ The 39-year-old Croatian admired the Italian team as a child. Photo @acmilan

AP and AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a11

Milan. At 39, Luka Modric will try to help restore seven-time European champions AC Milan to glory after one of the most disappointing seasons in their history.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner signed a one-year contract with Milan, after leaving Real Madrid after 13 trophy-laden seasons in Spain.

Modric confessed that he was a Milan fan as a child, because his idol and fellow Croatian, Zvonimir Boban, played for the club in the 1990s.

Last May, he confirmed his departure from the Merengue side with 28 trophies in his trophy cabinet: six Champions Leagues, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish league titles, two Copa del Rey titles, and five Spanish Super Cups.

Milan, the team where Mexican Santiago Giménez plays, finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a place in Europe.

"I'm very happy to be here to start a new chapter in my career ," the Croatian said in a video posted on the club's social media.

According to the Italian press, the former Real Madrid player will sign a one-year contract until June 30, 2026, and will return in early August after a two-week vacation.

A new coach, Massimiliano Allegri, is waiting for him at Milan, ready to return the Lombard team to the Champions League .

Reports indicate that Allegri called former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to inquire about Modric's fitness.

Milan's new sporting director, Igli Tare, subsequently traveled to the club's training camp in Croatia last month to finalize the deal with the former Real Madrid star.

Yamal will be sued

The Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism publicly denounced the hiring of short people at the 18th birthday party of Barcelona soccer player Lamine Yamal and announced that it will initiate legal and social action to protect the dignity of this community.

According to the organization, the young striker's celebration included the participation of people with achondroplasia, exclusively as part of the event's entertainment.

In this context, the president of the association, Carolina Puente, warned: it is unacceptable that in the 21st century people with dwarfism continue to be used as entertainment at private parties .

▲ Angela Ruiz, Olympic bronze medalist in archery, will compete in the Paraguayan competition. Photo: World Archery

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Less than a month before the start of the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, María José Alcalá, head of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), announced that the expenses of the tricolor delegation will be covered by the organization she directs, since on this occasion, CONADE will only collaborate with the medical team.

We're doing so with our own resources thanks to our sponsors. The approximate cost is 52 million pesos, which we were able to raise thanks, in part, to the support of Panam Sports , the former diver commented.

Our country will be represented by 377 athletes, 190 women and 187 men. With the technical, multidisciplinary, and long-sleeved team, the delegation will consist of 580 members.

We have a very good relationship with Rommel Pacheco; we talk a lot, and on this occasion, we won't have financial support from CONADE. We agreed that we would cover the costs for Asunción, and they would only collaborate with the doctors , Alcalá explained.

Although it's a youth competition, Mexico will have some notable figures to grace the delegation. Competing in Paraguay will be Olympic bronze medalist in archery, Ángela Ruiz; world medalist in artistic swimming, Diego Villalobos; diving champions Kenny Zamudio and Mía Cueva; and open water swimmer Paulo Strehlke, who competed in Paris 2024, among others.

Each of our representatives has the opportunity to return home with a medal. We are confident that we will perform well because the athletes we have are of great quality. The competition also awards 236 spots to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, which is a great incentive , commented former race walker Carlos Mercenario, who will serve as the national delegation's chef de mission.

Among the sports with the highest expectations are archery, athletics, and diving.

It's not an easy challenge because countries like Colombia and Cuba will be participating, with their delegations featuring outstanding athletes who have grown significantly at the continental level. For all our athletes, it will be a great experience because, in addition, they will begin to identify the rivals they will face in the Olympic cycle , Marijose explained.

In the qualification process for Asunción, 50 spots were lost due to various circumstances, a situation that will be given greater attention to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Some tickets were not obtained because athletes did not attend the qualifying competition or other adjustments made by international federations. We need to determine what the shortcomings were so that this doesn't happen again.

The Junior Pan American Games will take place from August 9 to 23 and will bring together more than 4,000 athletes, who will compete in 28 sports and 42 disciplines. Participants will range in age from 12 to 22.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Following the achievements of several athletes, President Claudia Sheinbaum recognized their successes in honoring Mexico .

Yesterday, at her morning press conference, the president asked her team to show a video highlighting the athletes' triumphs.

Recognition went to cyclist Isaac del Toro, who won the Tour of Austria; rower Kenia Lechuga, for her gold medal in the Women's Lightweight Single Sculls A Final at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne; Matías Grande, individual champion at the Archery World Cup; race walker Alegna González, winner of the Dublin Race Walking Challenge; Abraham Áncer, third place in the LIV Golf League in Andalusia; and Patricio Pato O'Ward, winner of the first race of the Iowa Grand Prix.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

San José, Claudia Poll, Costa Rica's only Olympic champion, and two other former swimmers from that country reported yesterday that they suffered psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from renowned local coach Francisco Rivas, who denied the accusations.

"I suffered every possible (psychological) attack from Rivas," said Poll, winner of the gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Games, while former national team member Marcela Cuesta said she was sexually abused by the coach when she was a minor.

The former swimmers filed their complaint on the program Interferencia, an investigative journalism program on the University of Costa Rica radio stations.

Rivas was always going through my personal belongings, stealing my cell phones. When he could, he paid to have my conversations recorded, and he went through my trash , said Poll, who won two bronze medals at Sydney 2000.

He once took used condoms out of my trash, made a photocopy of them, showed them to me, and demanded that I tell him who they belonged to , the 52-year-old former athlete added.

The coach, who is still active, denied the allegations. "In Claudia's case, I'm surprised by everything. It's not true, I have to say it categorically ," he told Teletica, stating that he was a member of Poll's H2O swimming club until 2022.

Rivas, 75, has been a coach for five decades, has led six Olympic teams, and is described by the Costa Rican Sports Gallery as the most successful swimming coach in Latin America .

Marcela Cuesta, who quit competitions at 16, said that when she was very young, he tried to touch me (my private parts) in one way or another and I immediately rejected him .

He never did it again, he was careful not to repeat it , added the former athlete, winner of three Pan American medals at the 1987 Indianapolis Games.

I remember when Francisco told me: you are brilliant, wonderful, you have an incredible talent, but God made you stupid , she added.

Cuesta indicated that a few months ago he reported what happened to the Costa Rican Aquatic Sports Federation, but this entity responded that the events were time-barred .

Former swimmer Manuel Rojas also claimed that he suffered physical and psychological abuse from Rivas.

He said that on one occasion, the coach decided to give him massages, even though the federation had a physical therapist. "It wasn't a massage, it was blows. I felt the fist on my legs, the elbows on my back, but it wasn't therapy; they were injuries ," he said.

▲ Photo @schecoperez

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Sergio Pérez's future could be back in Formula 1. According to various reports, the Mexican driver has reached an agreement with the Cadillac team, and the official announcement will come after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which will be held on August 3.