SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez hadn't stopped to talk to the press after games throughout the entire Copa America Centenario. It was believed he might do so after he had leveled Jared Borgetti as Mexico's highest ever goal scorer.
Instead, a distraught-looking Hernandez faced the cameras in polar opposite circumstances, after El Tri lost 7-0 to Chile in the quarterfinal of the tournament in Mexico's heaviest defeat in any official tournament in its history.
"Sorry, we are very embarrassed," said Hernandez after being asked by ESPN FC in the mixed zone if he had a message for the Mexican people. "[The loss] hurts our soul and mine in particular."
"Nothing hurts like us conceding seven goals in a tournament like this," he added. "I say to all Mexicans all over the world and [those] in the stadium that we try to represent the country in a dignified way and we are very embarrassed."
Bayer Leverkusen striker Hernandez asked for fans to back coach Juan Carlos Osorio -- who issued an apology of his own -- despite reigning Copa America champion Chile ending El Tri's 22-game undefeated streak in humiliating fashion.
"[We have to] support him as we have," said Hernandez. "Every group I've been with in the national team has supported [the coach] and we are with [Osorio], as always."
The message was reiterated by 37-year-old Mexico captain Rafa Marquez, who was controversially left out of the starting XI and didn't feature at all in the loss.
"[We] totally [have to support Osorio], we are the principal actors," said the Atlas defender. "We ask for the vote of confidence; he convinced of us many things and we give him our support."
Hector Herrera also apologized to Mexico fans and El Tri players filed through the postmatch mixed zones looking shell-shocked after one of the worst nights in the national team's history.