Sergio Canales is the latest big-name player to cross the pond, becoming one of the few Spaniards to make the move from Europe to North America in his prime. Now, he is starring for CF Monterrey in Leagues Cup 2023 action.
The 32-year-old Rayados forward was the major story in the LIGA MX transfer window this summer, having put pen to paper a three-year deal on arriving from Real Betis. His signing came in the midst of his team’s impressive run at Leagues Cup.
CF Monterrey are the only team left in the competition to have won all of their games in regulation time, and have had to make do with the long-term injury absence of their starting striker Germán Berterame. The Spaniard’s arrival was key in keeping the team’s forward momentum up, since his debut against Portland Timbers in the knockout stages.
In the three games he has played so far, the Cantabrian has scored two key goals from the penalty spot, in consecutive games. The first was a last-minute winner against arch-rivals Club Tigres to claim a 1-0 victory in the Clásico Regio. Then, in the quarter-final clash against MLS Cup 2022 winners Los Angeles FC, he scored the spot-kick that sparked an impressive comeback from 2-0 down. This Tuesday, the team will go up against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park in Tennessee for a spot in the Leagues Cup final.
Canales first broke onto the scene at his hometown club, Racing de Santander, and has turned out for the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Real Sociedad, as well as Real Betis. Now, he’ll be looking to center stage in North America in what remains of this year’s Leagues Cup.
In an exclusive interview with _leaguescup.com_, the Spanish international talks about his arrival in Mexico and much more.
Leagues Cup: How are you preparing for the match against Nashville SC, and what differences have you noticed in training between North America and Europe?
Sergio Canales: We had training yesterday morning. And today [Monday] we will train in the afternoon. We rested after the trip. I think it’s important to space things out wherever you are. Every coach has their own way of seeing football, and approaching the day-to-day work. I came in without having trained, and went straight into a tournament knockout match. I’m feeling really good, because the head coach [Fernando Ortiz] is very clear. I’m really happy with the work that’s being done here, and I feel like I can progress as a player in different areas.
LC: Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were all in the same situation at Inter Miami CF. What’s it like to come here and play straight away?
SC: I think that in the end, the mental side of things is the most important. I’ve been preparing all summer thinking that this could really happen. But it's true that on an individual level, with the rest of the squad and, above all, when I’m on the ball is where it can be most noticeable, right? On a physical level I feel pretty good. I'm still in the process of improving, of continuing to improve my agility.
LC: Do you feel as though this Leagues Cup has been played at a frantic pace, with a lot of end-to-end games, and a lot of goals as a result?
SC: The matches are very entertaining. I've been watching all the games and I've had a great time. It's true that I’m coming from a league where the games are played at a different pace, but that doesn’t matter - I don’t know whether it’s physical or not, but it does take some adapting. I'm getting used to it little by little, and I'm noticing that the games are much more open. The other day we were losing 0-2 against LAFC and I had the feeling that we could come back. The game was wide open, we were going to have a chance. I've rarely been part of a comeback like the one the other day. I've really been enjoying myself.
LC: With players of your caliber arriving, would you say that Europe is no longer the center of the footballing world?
SC: Yes, I’ve thought for a while that football is becoming increasingly globalized, much more open in terms of leagues. A few years ago Europe was seen as the place to be for high-level football, but now I think you can find that everywhere. I played in the Clásico [a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Club Tigres] which was a blast, and there were a lot of quality players in the opposition. The same goes for the MLS teams we’ve faced, they also have very good players. The way soccer is these days, you’ll find quality players wherever you go.
LC: You’ve already faced them in La Liga, but are you keen to face Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba again at Leagues Cup?
SC: Obviously, but first of all let’s think about the next game. It’s turning out to be quite a challenging tournament, with all of the games being away from home. But I’ve played against them many times over the years, and being able to face them again on the other side of the world in a final would be amazing.
LC: Do you have any anecdotes in particular from the times you’ve faced Messi?
SC: For me, Messi is the best player of all time. I remember once when I was defending against him, even though I don’t usually play in defense. On a corner kick, I told him to stay still, and he responded by telling me to be “calm”. Thankfully he didn’t cause us any problems in that particular play.
LC: You’ve told us that you’ve watched many games from the competition. What do you make of Nashville SC, your next opponents?
SC: We have to keep in mind that we’re going to be going up against a very good team, who are also doing really well in the competition, so we’re going to have a tough time. But we’ve won five games away from home in another country, and that’s very impressive.
LC: What does it mean for you and CF Monterrey to have the Club World Cup as a long-term objective?
SC: It’s a source of motivation. It’s also the first time that it’ll be played out in a new format [in 2025]. I think it’s going to gain a lot in terms of the competition and the fans’ support. I think that this tournament is going to make everything much more interesting. We’re hoping to prepare very well for such an event, and win things beforehand, like this Leagues Cup, which gives you a lot of confidence.
LC: Is the pressure on CF Monterrey as LIGA MX’s last representative, and what do you make of the format of this year’s Leagues Cup?
SC: I’d say responsibility, more than pressure. At the end of the day, we’re in a club that’s looking to win every title, and that’s the impression I’ve had since arriving. What I’m seeing is a tournament that’s beneficial for both leagues, that’s been very enjoyable, and which is being followed in many places in Spain. This direct knockout format makes it difficult, because you can have one off day and you’re on your way home, but that’s where concentration comes into play. We are the only Mexican team left at this stage, and we have that responsibility - we want to get to the final and win it.
