Mexico coach Rafael Márquez has defended the return of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, insisting that the LA Galaxy veteran can once again be a “difference-maker” for the national team.
Lozano has not played for Mexico since a friendly with Uruguay in November 2025 and was left out of the roster for this summer’s World Cup.
“The reason I’m bringing Hirving in is that I believe he can still offer us something more. He’s a difference-maker,” Márquez said in a news conference ahead of his first game as coach, in a friendly against Colombia on Saturday.
“We already know the kind of impact he can deliver.”
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Lozano’s absence for Mexico came during a period of exile from the first team of San Diego FC amid off-field tensions dating back to last year.
The 31-year-old joined the Galaxy on an initial loan deal last month, and has produced one goal and one assist in his first eight appearances.
Mexico is seeking to build off a spirited World Cup showing that ended with a dramatic 3-2 loss to England in the round of 16. And Márquez said there will be few changes in his first camp after taking over from former coach Javier Aguirre.
“The foundation will be somewhat based on what we saw at the World Cup,” the two-time UEFA Champions League winner added Friday. “The style of play will also largely reflect that, given the limited time available to work on things or make changes.
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“That said, we will gradually incorporate certain ideas, trying to improve specific defensive and offensive game situations. But ultimately, there won’t be any major changes.”
Although there are a handful of new faces, such as Chivas up-and-comers Hugo Camberos and Santiago Sandoval, Márquez’s first roster maintains a strong core of experienced options that were involved in the World Cup.
He is, though, missing star attacking names such as forward Raúl Jiménez and Ballon d’Or nominee Julián Quiñones, who are recovering from injury knocks.
And Márquez noted that a clash with Colombia, whose World Cup also ended at the round of 16, won’t be a straightforward task.
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“The Colombian national team has been a tough challenge for us lately,” he said. “We haven’t managed to beat them in the last six matches or so. It obviously won’t be easy.”
After taking on Colombia, Mexico will face Peru on Tuesday, the United States on Oct. 3 and Chile on Oct. 6.
Márquez served as an assistant to Aguirre in the lead-up to the World Cup. Aguirre, whose contract ended after the tournament, joined Valencia earlier this week as the Spanish club’s new manager.
