ian1964 10,724 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 ...according to former Stuttgart star. Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena had lost their way but now they can recover their career at Ibrox and move on to better things, says countryman Pavel Pardo. They are two Lost Boys of Liga MX that one of Mexico’s most fabled footballers believes can make a home amid the bedlam of Ibrox. Former Stuttgart midfielder Pavel Pardo still has the sound of the southside of Glasgow ringing in his ears, a decade after he lost 2-1 in the Champions League to Rangers. He predicts countrymen Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena will soon become big noises in their own right as Mexican players finally begin to prove they can cut it in the European game. Pardo, 42, was a trailblazer who won the Bundesliga title in 2007, part of a career haul that saw him play in two World Cups and amass 148 caps for the Mexicans, their second highest total in history. He is encouraged by the moves of Herrera and Pena to Glasgow, who have just been granted work permits, as part of a Mexican Wave to the Light Blues on the back of the experience of new boss Pedro Caixinha at Santos Laguna. Until recently, Pardo was part of a select group of Mexicans to have made a significant impact in the European game, alongside the likes of legendary Real Madrid striker Hugo Sanchez and former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez. Only around half a dozen Mexicans have played at the sharpest end of English football and for every Javier Hernandez at Manchester United and Carlos Vela at Arsenal and West Brom there are others such as Carlos Salcido at Fulham, Pablo Barrera at West Ham and Jared Borgetti at Bolton, who arrived with great expectations only to leave after just one season. In the Scottish game, Efrain Juarez didn’t pull up many trees at Celtic while defender Gabriel spent less than a season at Partick Thistle he barely even had time to put down roots. However Pardo, now an analyst for Fox Sports in the States, believes Herrera and Pena represent a new generation and, with fire in their bellies and a determination to prove their worth, Caixinha might just have mined a couple of diamonds. Pardo told Record Sport: “I love football and when you mention Glasgow Rangers to me I think of a team that symbolises the great history of Scottish football. “This history is reflected in the stadium and the trophy room where all the titles are displayed. I remember it from the game we played with Stuttgart. That night was my debut in the Champions League and the atmosphere created by the supporters was absolutely amazing. “It is a fantastic environment in which to play football and comes with a pressure too, because you must win, but it is an arena in which Herrera and Pena can prosper. “I am an admirer of both players but there have been times in recent seasons when they have lost their way. They are joining a great club but, more than that, they are signing for a manager who wants them and believes in them. That’s so important. “I have been following Pena since he played with Leon and he won the championship twice. He then moved to Chivas in Guadalajara, my home town, but I don’t believe he ever wanted the transfer. “Guadalajara is such a big city, more than four million people, and he was not comfortable in that environment. His development decreased and he went back to Leon on loan before agreeing the move to Rangers. “After the World Cup in 2014 I know he had the opportunity to move to some significant clubs in Europe but for whatever reason the transfer didn’t materialise. “He lost his place in the national team but he brings a lot to the team from the middle of the park, a real driving force. He has good touch and technique and in some ways reminds me of the style of Paul Scholes. “He maybe feels he has something to prove, just like Herrera. He’s tall, strong, good in the air but with a decent touch. He likes a fight, a battle. I always believed he would fit perfectly into German football and the physical dimension of the Scottish game will also suit his style. “He was also called to the national team two years ago on the back of the work he did with Caixinha at Santos Laguna, on loan from Pumas. It didn’t work out for him latterly at Pumas and he was also on loan recently at Veracruz and that wasn’t so successful either. “I’ve spoken with him a couple of times and I know he wants to try the challenge of Europe. The Scottish league may be small, comparable with the likes of Austrian or Swiss football, but Rangers and Celtic are clubs of such significance. “I would not put it past both players to prove their worth in Glasgow and maybe even move on to a bigger league, especially on the back of their work in European competition. I would not rule out a return to the national team either. “The development of the Mexican team is being helped by the fact we now have 10 or 11 young players in our squad all playing at a high level in Europe. “Mexican players are physically tough. We’re like boxers who are put on the floor but keep coming back for more. However, in the past we’ve lacked patience in our mentality. “The culture of Europe is so different, you need at least six months to acclimatise to a new way of life, including learning a new language. Our guys are more willing to learn and adapt these days. “Our players are showing greater maturity from a younger age which is allowing them to develop to their true potential in the European game. A perfect example is someone such as Marco Fabian, who is so important for Eintracht Frankfurt. The Rangers boys can become just as influential at their new club.” Pardo has also given the thumbs up to Caixinha, who is lacing his new look squad with a latin influence that reflects his own education as a coach. He said: “I heard a lot of good things about Caixinha in Mexico and his time at Santos Laguna has also reflected positively in his decision to sign players such as Pena and Herrera. “He knows these players, he knows their culture and how they must adopt to their new surroundings. The players know they have the support of their coach and that will be so important in helping them enjoy success with Rangers in their new home.” 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublusince1982 243 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Said it before the Mexican mentality will fit exactly with the Scottish. Could be a match made in heaven for us. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,948 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Said it before the Mexican mentality will fit exactly with the Scottish. Could be a match made in heaven for us. Not so much a new dawn, more a Tequila Sunrise. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFK-1 1,693 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Not so much a new dawn, more a Tequila Sunrise. Well if this clicks and obviously we all hope it does maybe this should be added to the play-list at Ibrox. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXsAVwJ7Q30 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Unless we improve in most departments it's "the hotel California" for me..... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearman 9 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Well if this clicks and obviously we all hope it does maybe this should be added to the play-list at Ibrox. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXsAVwJ7Q30 Because of you JFK, I've just spent the past hour listening to The Eagles! Think I'll just carry on for another hour...telly is rotten! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Love the eagles 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhunter 0 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Love the eagles 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFK-1 1,693 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Must have been Eagles day, been hearing them on the car radio all day. Just heard them again before I came in. Lyin' eyes . 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 We had the orange cup final could we now have the orange sombrero cup final. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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