- Marcelo Méndez is the mastermind who has led Montevideo City Torque to the best international campaign in the club's history so far.
- In just one year, the Uruguayan coach has brought out the best in his players, given the side a clear identity and inspired the 'Citizens' to dream of progressing further in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
The Uruguayan side were the third-highest scorers in the Group Stage, with 11 goals (behind only Botafogo -15- and RB Bragantino -12-), but their most notable characteristic has been evident in their approach, their style of play and the leading role they have taken in each of their matches. “I'm happy because the work is being reflected in the results. And that doesn't always happen in football,” the coach said.
With just 18 years of history, City Torque are enjoying the best international campaign in their history. The journey, which began with victory over Defensor Sporting in Phase 1, has brought demanding opponents and challenging venues, but the response has always been the same: faith in the process.
Méndez, who joined the capital club after a spell at Gimnasia de La Plata, found a side with qualities waiting to be developed — and that was his first strength. “We believe strongly in our style of play and we've grown tired of hearing: ‘Torque play good football but don't win’. Far from changing, we reaffirmed our path.”
The results have backed up his philosophy, as the side finished top of Group F ahead of Grêmio, Deportivo Riestra and Palestino, with four wins, one draw and one defeat. In the Round of 16, against Tigre — runners-up in the 2012 edition of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana — they prevailed 3-1 on aggregate (1-0 away from home and 2-1 at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo).
With Franco Pizzichillo and Salomón Rodríguez among their standout performers, the Uruguayan side now face another demanding test in their bid to reach the Quarter-finals. Standing in their way are Cienciano, champions of the Great Conquest in 2003, and recent winners of a historic tie against Botafogo, which included a 6-1 victory in Cusco.
“Marcelo is bringing out the best in me. I'm putting up numbers I didn't expect this year,” said forward Salomón Rodríguez, who scored twice in the second leg against Tigre to seal the 'Citizens'' passage to the next round. The San Gregorio de Polanco-born forward, who is enjoying the best individual season of his career, is his side's leading scorer in the Great Conquest, having scored five of City Torque's 15 goals in the competition.
Pizzichillo, the player with the most appearances in the history of the sky-blue side and a key figure in Méndez's system, also underlined the importance of the coach's role. “He changed the face of the team,” he said in an interview with El Espectador.
In their third international campaign — and their second in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana — Montevideo City Torque have shown that they can get results and are not intimidated by any situation. Marcelo Méndez's philosophy has permeated the squad and is setting the course for their continental dream. “It's good to get results in football. They're not easy to achieve and this group is managing it, but the way you achieve them and creating an identity are also important.”
