He didn't hesitate to say the words.
"Hell, no."
That's what Joe Corona said when asked if he would stay with his club and play in the team's most important match to date.
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles played against storied Chivas de Guadalajara earlier this month. It was the party atmosphere everyone expected. The Xolos, a heavy underdog at home, matched up well against Chivas despite losing 1-0.
So, why would Corona not want to be part of the event?
Easy.
He chose to take part in a lifelong dream.
The National City native was called to play with Mexico's Under-22 National team. He made his debut with El Tri last week in a friendly road match against Chile.
Corona played 10 minutes after coming in as a sub. He wore the No. 3 jersey. He had reached his goal to be a national team player. And it is a moment he said will always cherish.
"It was a great experience, something that I wanted since I was a kid and it served as plenty of motivation. It helped me realize what the atmosphere is like playing for a national team and it is a great experience."
Corona soaked in the experience and then days later he joined the Xolos in Toluca where Tijuana squeezed out a 1-1 draw. Corona was on the bench for the entire match.
The Xolos (1-4-3, 6 points) could have probably used the midfielder and American-born child of parents from Mexico and El Salvador.
The club should have Corona back in the starting lineup for Sunday's Week 9 match against Club Deportivo Estudiantes Tecos (3-5-0, 9 points) at Estadio Caliente.
Tijuana will be looking for its first home win of the season and rake in three points. The Xolos sit second to last in the Apertura Tournament league standings, one point ahead of last-place Atlas. The Xolos also sit at the bottom of the relegation percentage standings, meaning the team is at risk of being sent back to the second division (Liga de Ascenso).
But while Corona tries to help the Xolos bring in a win for the first time since beating Santos Laguna on Aug. 6, he might just have the national team in the back of his mind.
After all, there is a strong chance Mexico coach Luis Fernando Tena will ask Corona to join the U-22s for the Pan American games in Guadalajara in October.
As much as Corona wanted to wear Mexico's jersey, playing in a friendly with the U-22s and in the Pan Am games doesn't guarantee he will someday play with Mexico's senior national team.
El Salvador and the United States still have a shot at luring Corona from Mexico for their own senior teams. The U.S. team probably has more pull then El Salvador.
Enough pull that former U.S. coach Bob Bradley had filed the paper work to call Corona to the senior team for the American's exhibition match against Mexico on Aug. 10.
The Xolos had received a letter from the U.S. Soccer federation naming Corona to the senior team. Turns out Bradley was fired a few days before the Mexico match. Corona's situation was then in limbo. The United States called Corona and told him there would be another roster compiled by Bradley's replacement, Juergen Klinsmann.
As a result, Corona was not on Klinsmann's roster. He would later send USD assistant coach Brian Quinn to watch Corona play for the Xolos against Puebla last month and file a scouting report. Quinn said he gave Corona high ratings.
It didn't matter at the time. Mexico had called Corona and he accepted.
Klinsmann recently said he will keep an eye on Corona as he "becomes more suitable for the senior team" and could call him sometime in the future.
Corona, who played at San Diego State for a season during his sophomore year, probably doesn't have to worry about it or stress for much longer despite Klinsmann's latest comments.
Or does he?
"I feel as though it is too early to decide," Corona said about possibility of playing for the U.S. senior team. "For now, I will focus on the Pan American games and if I get the opportunity I'll say yes but if things don't go well once playing there, I would leave my options open to who really wants to give me a chance."
Meanwhile, Corona has his club in the Xolos. Sunday's game is important. Tijuana needs to win to make a run at a slot in the post season. The top eight teams in the league standings get in.
There are eight games remaining on the Xolos schedule after Tecos. And Corona could miss four of them if he's at the Pan Am games.
It probably doesn't matter to him, as long as he is on the field elsewhere, wearing El Tri's jersey.
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]Xolos vs. Tecos
What: Xolos vs. Estudiantes Tecos
When: Sunday, noon
Where: Estadio Caliente
TV: TV Azteca, ESPN Deportes
Outlook: Tijuana is vying for its first home win as a member of the Primera División. Coach Joaquín del Olmo's squad is 0-2-2 at Estadio Caliente. The Xolos are coming off a 1-1 draw at Toluca last week.
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