Huerta started only 1 match of Mexico’s 3 and made a sub appearance in a second. But this only amounted to about 90 minutes total, having been subbed off in the match he started. I don’t believe this Mexican outfit and their setup were the best way to judge most of these players but regardless, Huerta stood out to me from his first minute. At 23 years old, Huerta was driven to make things happen both on and off the ball. All of his actions were done with conviction and determination as Mexico was clawing for a lifeline to the knockout rounds (which they did not find).
The video above is meant to demonstrate some of Huerta’s patterns of play which I believe showcase who he is as a player to determine what type of team he is best suited for.
Overview
Likes:
Play to be in front of him
Running at players
Receiving in space
Dislikes:
Receiving with pressure from behind
Areas to Improve:
Picking moments to slow down his play
Breaking Down Actions
Right Wing Actions - Looks to Combine, Pass and Move
Huerta likes to have the ball high and wide with options in front of him. He likes to engage a defender and blow past them with or without the ball. He doesn’t shy away from a dribble but tends to try combining with teammates for a give-and-go. Sometimes these attempts to combine can be done a bit too quickly for his teammates which can lead to giveaways, but the intentions are good.
Back Post Arrivals - Waiting to Attack
When play is on the opposite side of him in the final third, Huerta was usually hanging out behind the runners in the box in order to pick up loose balls as they made their way in and around the box. He managed to get a few shots off this way.
Transition Actions - Receiving on the Run
As soon as the ball is won, Huerta is already making a run to push the defense back and hoping to find some space to receive in. Unfortunately, his teammates let him down a couple of times by playing poor balls which killed the transition moments.
Defensive Actions - Intense Pressure
Being the first line of defense when Mexico was in a settled defensive shape, Huerta was eager to press the opposition players near him as they would receive the ball. He was able to get off some tackles through his aggression and also closed off potential passing lanes.
Weakness - Receiving with a Man on his Back
One area where Huerta’s game could improve would be his strength and this comes particularly into play when he receives the ball with a man pressing his back. He is prone to a poor touch and losing balance, which can lead to giveaways in dangerous areas of the field or kill the momentum the team has.
Thank you for reading. This is obviously the first time I have done anything like this (especially with respect to the video). Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. I have really enjoyed working on this project and presenting it in this format so I hope I can continue to improve it in the future.
You will notice that there are many differences between the videos and formatting of this information between the five players in this series that will be released throughout the week so please let me know which ones you like and which you don’t!
Share this post