Ángel Zaldívar commented on the criticism that has been made to Chofis López for his weight and assured that the team will help him recover
GUADALAJARA -- Ángel Zaldívar, forward of Chivas, believes that the criticism towards Javier Eduardo López has drifted towards off-field issues, so the team seeks to help ‘Chofis’ overcome these moments.
“I consider him a friend, more than a teammate. They have gotten too involved in his personal life and he has the right to do what he believes. On the field, he is different and the topic has been diverted to other off-field issues. He is different, with qualities, and he knows that by working hard and fighting for a starting position he can help us a lot, and he has shown it. Since I left, I have seen him resolve matches, provide assists. We have to evaluate him on the field and as a teammate, I want to help him demand as much of himself as others and give his all. We won't let him get distracted by criticism. He should focus on his own game,” Ángel Zaldívar said in a press conference.
Ángel Zaldívar returned to Chivas for the Guard1anes 2020, after being away from the institution for a year and a half. He considers that the adaptation to his teammates has not been as complicated as adapting to the new normal, as there is not as much interaction, and he also misses playing with the support of the crowd.
“The adaptation has been good. I have been received well and the adaptation is more to the new normal than to the interaction, which is not as much. I feel good, but having been out of competition for so long will also be a challenge, and we have to adapt quickly. The tournament has started and the matches are crucial. The team will improve, and we need to adapt to everything. If one player is missing, another has to replace them,” the forward said.
“Soccer is different now. We have to adapt to these circumstances, such as playing without a crowd and not hearing the shouts of the opponent and the coach. It's adapting to the changes that come with playing a match with fans. The fans are also important, and it's a bonus that unfortunately we don't have right now. We have to look out for the well-being of the people,” he added.
Ángel Zaldívar revealed that both he and Hiram Mier and Alexis Vega were separated from the Chivas squad from Tuesday to Saturday when they played against León, because the three of them had been in contact with players who tested positive for the coronavirus. However, he regretted that Vega tested positive unlike his case and Mier's.
“You are uncertain about another test because of the protocols. I slept with Ronaldo (Cisneros) who tested positive. It's a disease that you don't know how you will get infected. It's something we are all exposed to. Thankfully, I tested negative and I am following all the measures so that we don't get infected again,” Zaldívar concluded.