Former Mexico manager Miguel Herrera says current Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio should be in Mexico watching the Liguilla rather than taking in matches in Argentina.
Herrera's America team trounced Pumas in the quarter-final round and takes on Santos Laguna in the semi-finals this week. Osorio, however, didn't see any quarter-final matches as he was in Argentina, visiting Independiente, to chat with coaches there, and Racing Club to watch the team's Copa Libertadores match against the Universidad de Chile.
Several of Herrera's America players are in the mix for Osorio to select for his World Cup roster, with forward Oribe Peralta likely to go. Defender Edson Alvarez also is probable while right-back Paul Aguilar has made his case but hasn't entered Osorio's plans since the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Osorio hasn't made clear if he'll be in attendance at any of this week's contests with the deadline approaching for him to name his squad for this summer's tournament, but Herrera feels it's the Colombian's obligation to be at the playoff contests.
"Obviously it's not good because [Mexican soccer] is the soccer he's managing and the soccer he has to be observing. He doesn't have to be doing anything besides observing this soccer," Herrera said on ESPN Mexico. "But the federation's demands with people who aren't from our country ... they give more freedom to do what they want. That's how it's always been."
Herrera led Mexico to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was 2015 Gold Cup champion with El Tri before a physical confrontation with a commentator after the final of that tournament saw him dismissed from the role.
There has been speculation that Herrera would be in line for a return to the job should America continue its strong form. With Osorio saying he may seek other positions after Russia and Televisa Deportes president Yon de Luisa set to take over as the president of the Mexican federation after the World Cup, Herrera may be a natural fit. America is owned by Grupo Televisa.
