Javier Aguirre says connection with fans 'driving force' behind Mexico World Cup success

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/mexico-O6iHcNkd/?mid=fydIxpfR"]2-0 win[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]‌Ecuador[/a] at the Azteca Stadium was ‌their fourth straight victory without a goal conceded at the tournament.[/p][p][b]"This connection we have with ‌the fans is a driving ⁠force," [/b]Aguirre ‌said at a press conference.[/p][p]On Tuesday night, the ​Azteca was once again overflowing, with just over 80,000 fans cheering on ​their team from start to finish and booing every time the opposing team ⁠touched the ​ball.[/p][p][b]"I've had some great victories, but none like today's, because it's at home, with your own people,"[/b] added Aguirre, who previously ‌managed Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.[/p][embed guid="de70aec6-9dc2-4a09-808c-04a99e8b837b" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2072184810840486320" social-type="twitter" /][p]On Sunday, Mexico will play in the round of 16 again at home in Mexico City against the winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=nkoQVAgB"]of the match[/a] between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a].[/p][p]Aguirre, 67, praised the Ecuadorean team, who finished second ‌in the South American qualifiers with ​only two losses in 18 matches.[/p][p][b]"It is ‌not easy to beat Ecuador,"[/b] he said.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="097b1230-25b1-4251-a9b3-5211b15c570d" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="db2902a7-05d3-4d92-bc3c-5e3e632632ff" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Aguirre was happy with Mexico's performance, his only gripe being that they were unable to score more goals ⁠on the counterattack ⁠to kill off ‌the game.[/p]