SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Mexico winger Elias Hernandez says El Tri must improve on its performance in Sunday's 2-0 Gold Cup victory over Curacao.
Hernandez has been one of Mexico's best players in the tournament and the Group C victory set up a quarterfinal against Honduras on Thursday in Phoenix.
El Tri gave up four shots on goal and goalkeeper Jesus Corona was named man-of-the-match in a game Mexico could've easily drawn.
"There are many things to improve," Hernandez said after the game in Alamodome. "The team has to keep the ball longer, not give it away, which is what we did today and it made things complicated for us."
Mexico finished the group on seven points and, according to captain Erick Gutierrez, the pressure and demands to win the tournament from El Tri fans and the domestic press is nothing new.
"We know our responsibility, there is always pressure here," said the 22-year-old. "We always try to give everything on the field and the objective is to be champion; that's what we'll try to do."
Pachuca captain Gutierrez wore the Mexico armband for the first time in only his seventh cap with the national team and the midfielder admitted that it was a special occasion.
"It's a day I'll never forget," he said. "I'm Pachuca captain, but I never thought I would be here because there are players with a lot of experience, but I took on the responsibility and I'm content."
Mexico's assistant coach Pompilio Paez -- standing in for the suspended Juan Carlos Osorio -- suggested the coaching staff have made their conclusions about which players they will use moving forward in the Gold Cup, after using 21 of the 23 players in the group stage.
"We now know who our most influential players are," said Paez in the postgame news conference, adding El Tri will play with three forwards against Honduras.
The Colombian also suggested that the result against Curacao was achieved "with a lot of defects, but also virtues."