In the latter part of his career, Pachuca midfielder Angel Mena is enjoying the fruits of international competition.
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Mena is playing in his second FIFA club tournament
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Pachuca take on Al Ahly on Saturday in the FIFA Challenger Cup
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The Ecuadorian midfielder is eager to get a crack at Real Madrid in the final
Angel Mena has had to wait most of his career to get a shot at the bright lights of a FIFA club competition, but now his cup runneth over. A year after appearing in his first with Club Leon in the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™, the 36-year-old midfielder is part of the Pachuca side that have taken the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ in Qatar by storm.
Mena came off the bench and played the final 33 minutes of Pachuca’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Brazilian side Botafogo in the FIFA Derby of the Americas, setting up a date with Al Ahly in Saturday’s FIFA Challenger Cup.
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A win against the Egyptian giants would pave the way for a final showdown against Real Madrid. As someone who has played in Mexico since 2017, Mena is fully aware of the significance of Pachuca’s magical run in Doha.
“More than just representing Pachuca, I think as a player it’s wonderful to be back playing in an international tournament, and in the case of Pachuca, it is a big achievement because of what it means for Mexican football,” said Mena in an interview with FIFA.
“To be able to represent Mexico, after all the different teams in Concacaf who competed to get to this place, there is a lot of value to that. To face teams that have a lot of success, like Real Madrid, one always desires to play against them, so it is very motivating for the club and the players. We have the strongest desires to represent well and go as far as possible.”
Mena was in Qatar two years ago with the Ecuadorian national team at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, however he did not see any action in the South American nation’s three matches. He finally got his first taste of playing in one at the 974 Stadium against Botafogo and stands to do the same against Al Ahly.
“I’m very happy to be play in these World Cup stadiums,” said Mena. “It’s an enormous satisfaction to be able to be here and have the chance to compete against great opponents and add a little more to the history of success that one has had. It challenges you.”
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Pachuca are not satisfied with just one victory in this Intercontinental Cup. Clearly there is a drive to make more history and the mere thought of being one victory away from a dream shot against arguably the world’s most decorated football club is whetting Mena and Pachuca’s international tournament appetite.
“In these competitions you face players with so much quality at a world level,” concluded Mena. “You are able to have the possibility of competing against European teams, in this case Real Madrid, one of the best in the world. I think that is the challenge and the motivation that one has to get here and compete.”
