MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- After renovating its defense during the offseason, Pachuca is one of Liga MX's best teams at the start of the 2016 Clausura. The club brought in Colombian defenders Oscar Murillo and Stefan Medina, 26-year-old Mexican left-back Emmanuel "Manny" Garcia, and most notably to those across the CONCACAF region, former Los Angeles Galaxy center-back, Omar Gonzalez.
After three matches, it is apparent that Gonzalez's arrival has strengthened Pachuca's defense, and in a conversation with ESPN FC following Los Tuzos' 4-1 win over Club America, Gonzalez revealed that he's enjoying every second of his time in a new team and league.
"To be honest, it has been a pretty easy transition for us to all start playing together. The only thing is that we're still trying to figuring out the way [Pachuca head coach] Diego [Alonso] wants us to play, so that has been the only difficult part for me, but it's starting to get better and better with each game," said Gonzalez. "But I really like playing next to Stefan, next to Murillo, and "Manny" as a left-back. I think we work really well together, our communication is great, and we're always cheering each other on, and that's the recipe for a good backline."
At this stage last season against the same opponents -- Xolos, Queretaro, and America -- Pachuca had allowed five goals; this season, only two. The numbers are convincing, and in Saturday's win Pachuca showed strength both on the ball and off the ball, demonstrating that they are an early contender for the title. However, Gonzalez was quick not to overhype the good start. "Well, for us every game is an important game, and so this was just another game, where we could go on progressing, keep on getting better, keep on doing what we want to do as a team to reach our goal, so tonight we showed it.
"We showed a lot of grit. We didn't have that much possession in the second half; they were all over us, but we managed to stay in the game and score a few more goals. I have to applaud our team on our work ethic, our play, and our spirit," he said.
Since arriving to Liga MX, Gonzalez has played every minute and has been unaffected by the altitude that sometimes affect new arrivals to Liga MX. "I've been great, but you know my first game in Tijuana I only had 12 days of training coming off of my offseason, and I haven't felt it too much. I'm happy with that, and now it's just time to continue, keep on working hard, stay humble, and keep on working for these results."
Out of Pachuca's six league goals, two of them have come via set pieces, one of which was assisted by Gonzalez in the opener at Tijuana. The aerial game that Gonzalez exhibited in Los Angeles fits in nicely with Alonso's tactics. "My goal is to be dangerous on set-pieces, and that's our whole team goal. We have height, we have guys who can send in a good ball, and so we have to be dangerous. We have to keep on making it tough for teams in their own box," said Gonzalez.
Although Gonzalez looks to be adapting quite well to his new life in Mexico, he reveals that he almost decided to remain with the Galaxy. "I was very close to staying with the Galaxy, and this offer came in. It was a great offer, and I spoke with [Pachuca president] Jesus Martinez on the phone. He sold me on coming to Pachuca," he paused. "I listened to what he said and realized it was time for me to go. I miss all of my Galaxy family, but I'm not looking back. I'm happy where I am, I want to win as much as I can here for Pachuca, for the city of Pachuca, and my heart is here right now."
Pachuca is one of Liga MX's most progressive clubs, in that they have built a team that has a mix of international footballers like Gonzalez and Argentinean Franco Jara, while boasting one of the best youth systems in the country. The prowess of Pachuca's youth team players like Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Erick Gutierrez, and Rodolfo Pizarro have made an impression.
"It's been an eye-opening experience for me because that doesn't happen in MLS where your whole midfield is basically 22 and under, minus two guys. It's been incredible. All of these guys are very humble, their work ethic is incredible, and they're so good. They're just great people. What I like the most is that they are great off the field, but when it's time to work, they put in the work. The work that they put in tonight is one of the reasons why we got the result we did," said Gonzalez.
For Gonzalez, coming to Liga MX has been "a step in the right direction," and he knows that as long as he stays focused on the task at hand at his new club, he'll reap national team rewards later.
"I'm not really worried about [the national team]; my focus is on getting better as a player here, and I know that if I continue on the path that I'm on, being consistent, helping my team get results, the call will come. And when and if it does, I'll be really happy and ready to give everything I have for my country," concluded Gonzalez.
If the early weeks of the Liga MX Clausura are anything to go by, Gonzalez's phone should be ringing soon.