Erik Lira expresses desire to play with Barcelona-style for Mexico

Midfielder Erik Lira has expressed his desire to play for the Mexican national team using a style similar to the Barcelona era of Rafael Márquez. This comment follows remarks by Márquez, who suggested that the current squad lacks the ‘materia prima’ (raw material) required to implement a Barcelona-style tactical approach.

Lira, who currently plays for Cruz Azul, noted that the team took the coach's comments with humor rather than offense, emphasizing a sense of harmony and self-criticism within the locker room. He expressed full support for Márquez, describing the relationship between the players and the manager as paternal.

Following a 1-1 draw against Colombia in Baltimore, Lira reached a milestone of 30 appearances for the Mexican national team, including 22 friendly matches.