Abu Dhabi: Veteran Pachuca keeper Oscar Perez says finally getting to play in a Fifa Club World Cup has made him change his mind on retirement.
“I said six months ago that I’d probably pack up after the Club World Cup. But then you get here and you realise that you can still compete and perform to a good standard,” said the 44-year-old former Mexico goalie, who will become the oldest player to compete in the tournament — if he plays — when his side takes on Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
“It pushes me to keep on going. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I want to see what shape I’m in at the end of the tournament and see how well I can play so I can make a call on what happens next.
“I feel in great shape right now. My career’s almost at an end, but I’m taking it day-by-day.
“I’m grateful to God and to life for allowing me to stay fit. I’ve had teammates who lived very good lives but who sadly ran out of time. Looking after yourself is absolutely vital. You have to rest well, eat well and do your work, without overdoing it.”
Despite 24 years in the game this is his first Club World Cup appearance.
“It’s an honour to have the opportunity, after all these years that I’ve been playing, to appear in a competition like this. In terms of my career, it’s right up there,” said the three-time Concacaf Golf Cup, and one-time Confederations Cup winner, who also played in two World Cups with Mexico.
On advising his younger teammates, he said: “I tell them these are very difficult matches and that the standard is really high. We have to be very well prepared, both physically and mentally. The first match is absolutely vital. We’re coming up against the best in the world and we can’t afford to put a foot wrong.
“If there’s one thing that motivates me and brings the best out of me, then it’s taking on players of that quality and ability — that’s what makes me grow. I want to play against them because they’re at the pinnacle of world football.”
The current record for the oldest player to compete at the Club World Cup is held by Miguel Calero, who incidentally also played for Pachuca at the age of 39 in 2010.
