In the CONCACAF semifinals, Canada defeated Argentina 0-2 and did not qualify for the final. However, after the match, Canada's head coach Mahi was not overly frustrated, but instead spoke highly of his players' performance and said the team has a bright future.
Mahy began by acknowledging how tough the game would be for Canada, noting that Argentina has been able to rotate players more often thanks to their accumulation and experience over the past eight years. In contrast, Canada is just beginning the process, but he believes the team will eventually reach a level where they can rotate. Mahy's comments are both a recognition of Argentina's strengths and a sign of confidence in Canada's future.
Despite the loss, Mahi was immensely proud of the players' performance. He emphasized that the team has had a wonderful five to six weeks together and the hustle and teamwork shown by the players was admirable. According to Mahi, this is a special moment and the team must recognize what has been achieved here and use it as motivation to continue working hard.
Speaking about the team's shortcomings, Mahi was outspoken about the team's lack of "killer instinct". He believes that this is a part of the team that needs to be perfected over time, but at the same time he is proud of the commitment and team spirit that the team has shown during the games. Mahy said he is also learning how to be a better coach of the national team and grow with the team.
In addition, Mahi made a point of mentioning the team's execution during the game. He emphasized that when the game doesn't go according to plan, the players need to stick to the execution of the plan instead of going their own way. Mahi addressed the issue during the halftime break and hoped that the players would be better able to deal with similar situations in future matches.
Mahi is looking forward to the future. He believes that this experience is very important for the team as every game is crucial for the team's process until 2026. Mahi said that the team will have a plan to build on what they have achieved here. He believes that if the team stays united and works hard, they will be able to achieve better results in the coming tournaments.
