Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #550: Alex Zendejas joins the pod

Episode Date: November 18, 2024

The Club America and USMNT winger met up with Sanjay Sujanthakumar in St. Louis to talk about that scuffle with Edson, the Poch experience, who's better at golf between him and Wes, his choice to play for the U.S., life in Mexico City vs Guadalajara, and much more. Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Scuff Podcast where we talk about U.S. soccer. Welcome to the scuff podcast. Sanjay here, and I'm joined by U.S. men's national team and Club America winger, Alex and Dejas. Alex, thanks for coming on the pod. Appreciate, man. Appreciate for having me, and I'm happy to be here. So you play for America, very arguably the biggest club in Mexico, and you always have players there who are in and around the Mexican national team.

So what's been like for you there having teammates who play for Mexico? What's the dynamic like in the locker room? Oh man. For sure, just a bunch of like, I guess you can say teasing and stuff, like making, not making fun of me, but just like, obviously it's that rival, you know, so it's saying like, oh, we're going to beat you or like let's bet on something or, oh, like this past game, obviously when we played Mexico with that whole scuffle I had with Edson. Yeah, man, they're all telling me like, like other teammates had my back. back and they were talking to like the Mexican players, Mexican national team players and being like, dang, I can't believe like he didn't get your back or like, but messing around, you know, because they did. It was just, it all happened so fast and stuff.

And I have a homie that was there at that game, like he's like one of my best friends. And he tried to like control me and stuff. But it was all, it was all good and fun and games at the end of the day. In the locker room, I mean, so like there's constant jokes or everyone's kind of used to it by now and it kind of goes away. like with you playing for the U.S.? Yeah, no, man. I think it's just like those, like, jokes when we're about

or, like, face each other. That's when they come out and stuff. But, like, when they ask me, like, everything good, like, hey, did you get called up? Or, like, how's the team doing? How you doing? Like, how you feeling? Everything's good.

But just, like, the jokes come out once we're going to face each other and stuff. What about with fans in Mexico? Like, when you're just walking down the street or even with media? Like, what's that like? No, man, they're actually respectful about it. their understanding about it of how it all went down.

But yeah, man, I mean, luckily I'm still getting a lot of love, especially from the Club of America fans, which is a huge thing, man, and I appreciate them for that. So what made you switch back to the U.S. last year? What pushed you all the way back? Yeah, like I said this in the moment. Since I did, like, my whole, like, the youth national team, I did it with all, all the way with the U.S.

So it's like most of these guys, I was with them and starting from like U-15 or U-14 all the way up until U-20 until like I ended up moving to Mexico to play for a club team down there. And then like all just a bunch of situations happened. But yeah, man, since I like grew up in the States, I did all like my youth team, national team career, I guess you could say. Like I was used to being with these guys and I know I get along with them. So for sure, that's like one of the big things that made me choose to stay with the U.S. Was there something that pushed you all the way back, like push you over the edge to get back to the U.S.? What didn't even like push me over the edge?

Like you were obviously thinking about it. Was there something that you that made you finally be like, you know what, now is the time I'm going to do it? Probably just me, like wanting to play at a national team level. For sure, like I was like, dang, like I feel like I'm good enough to be able to like play for a representation. in my country and stuff. So I guess you could say, like, once, like, this whole situation was happening, yeah, I think I wanted to come back for sure. You mentioned that little scrap with Edson.

So that game was a pretty forgettable one for the team, but you came in and had a pretty positive impact, right? So you had energy almost got involved in the scrap. Like, since you play in Mexico year-round, do you think you have an advantage in a game like that? Yeah, probably I would say so. I know these guys, like, most of the guys are used to, like, the pitch being perfect, like grass being nice, weather being nice and stuff.

But for sure, especially in that case, like, that scenario, that pitch, man, that field wasn't so good. And it's been like that for years now. But since we're playing on that field, like, every single year, I guess, like, I can say that I'm used to it. So I can, like, I can get used to, like, how it bounces, how it's. plays like what to anticipate or what to expect you know yeah so like i guess i had like an upper hand on that part so yeah i think um i think i knew like how to approach that game for sure yeah that makes sense i mean that's a big thing we saw it the other night too right like being used to the pitch and you know we adjust um so your second camp under poch uh what's that been like and

how are they different under pox than they were before um um I think, first off, just obviously once a new, once a team gets a new coach, obviously it's nice to be called in and stuff and have like that continuous call-ups. So I'm happy for that, man. I'm grateful for it. That shows that, like, what I've been doing here at camp and at the club, it's really making an impact. So just to stay along that line and hopefully I can get called in in the future camps. And then, yeah, with this guy, man, with part of the team. Potch, trainings are intense, which is like a good thing. Don't get me wrong. It's intense.

We for sure are getting the idea of like how he wants us to play and how to approach every single game. And it's good, man. It's really going to help us out to get ready for the World Cup. That's for sure. With that like intensity, is it noticed we more than before and how much of that do you think is like people trying to impress the new coach and how much is like, you know, the way he goes about setting up training and all that? Yeah, I mean, for sure, once, and this happens at club level, too, if a little coach comes in and stuff, obviously, you're kind of, like, mindset changes. Like, you're like, oh, thing, like, with this guy, I got to go all out or I got to show what I can do and stuff and, like, what he asks, like, I could do. And it's, like, it's normal.

But just, like, the jobs, like, he makes us do and stuff, like, they're going to really help, like, the team, like, get their style of play moving forward and just, like, get, like, get. like that chemistry on the field that the team needs you know so i think it's going to be like an amazing time from here onto the world cup and i think like the team's going to get some some positive results for sure and what about off the fields like what have you noticed in terms of what you guys do when you're not training anything different now than than before no man just we're always throwing jokes around Latinos are like known for throwing jokes around so it's like um luckily i mean i'm one of the few that can speak Spanish but uh i understand like the jokes at the coaching staff throws around. But they're doing a good job at it to like translate and like throw the

jokes in English so like the guys can understand as well. So it's like those connections man that's going to like really bring us together and like grow into a family for sure. But you're always communicating with him and the staff in Spanish pretty much? Nah man it's like here and they're like English and Spanish. It's just like luckily I can speak both but obviously he does English so everyone can understand. What about you? Are you a jokester in both? I feel like you're low-key kind of clown.

I know in English it seems like West Ending and Chris are kind of the funny guys, but I feel like people don't really know about you. So one thing about me, man, is, and it happened today at lunch, my laugh is crazy loud. And, dude, like, it gets to a point where it's funny, but then I guess it gets to a point or like people can't stand it to like they get so say we make a joke about someone and since it since my laugh is so loud like that someone takes it to heart and like they get mad at me because of how my laugh is you know like it's just it's crazy man but i mean i'm a jokester but i just like to like have fun like smile all the time laugh all the time so that's just like

my personality. So what do you like to do away from soccer? Dude, so right now I'm into golf. I'm not the best at it. But since my brother, my dad, and my sister's fiance, they're really into it, yeah, man, I've been playing a lot down in Mexico City. It's not the easiest because, like, the access to courses isn't as easy as in the States. but dude every time I

I can get a chance to play like on a day off or like say in the afternoon whenever we train in the morning I'm on the golf course for sure and then I also like to play paddle yeah it's not it's like getting big in the States but it's not as big as in Mexico and Europe but um yeah man those two things and then in my down time

I just kicked back like to watch movies hang out with my with my girl um I like to play call of duty I'm into that, bro. Put the boys. Yeah.

With golf, I have to ask everyone this. Like, where do you rank yourself amongst the group? Like, yeah, yeah. These guys kill me for sure. The other day I got happy that I broke 100 for the first time. I started in January. Oh, okay. Yeah, bro.

Like, I'm barely into it. But, yeah, the other day, I got super happy. I even sent a picture to Christian while he was in Italy and I was in Mexico that I broke 100. What he said? But then, what is he at? What did he say when you sent him there? Man, he's dry as heck. Through text, he's dry.

He just sent me, like, a thumbs up or something like that. Or like a congrats, and I was like, all right. But in person, like, he hyped me up. But other than that, man, yeah. Nah, these guys are, like, I know a couple, like, one time we went to a golf course, and it was, like, just crazy how good these guys are, man, for sure. I'm like, it's tough. Could you compare yourself to someone?

You're at roughly at whose level? Bro, we joke around and we say, we say Wes, but bro, Wes has been playing for a while now, but they say that he's not that good, but then Wes is like, oh, I'm really good, so I think I'm at West's level for sure. He's going to take that, like, to heart, man.

He's going to get, he's going to give ball hurt for real. That's going to be funny. Tell me more about it. your family so tell me about your siblings um you all grew up in alpasa right but you're originally from Juarez telling me more about your family and how you got into soccer yeah uh born in Juarez but then moved uh to opaso yeah yeah i started playing when i was four years old man uh started like with those like sunday leagues like three to three three three versus three sorry three versus three and then like four to four and then as i got older like just turned into lemurs 11

And then it got to the point where FC Dallas got like an affiliate with the team in El Paso, and I was on that team. They came down to give some tryouts and whatnot. And then they were interested in me going to Dallas to their academy. And that's how it started, man. I ended up moving when I was 13 years old. Obviously my mom didn't want to. My dad was up for it, though. So he was like the one that convinced her.

And since I was young, I was blessed enough that a family took me in. in, and which I still talked to to this day. They actually live here in St. Louis, so I got to see him yesterday. But yeah, man, thankfully they took me in, and I lived with them for like a couple years until they had to move, and then it all, it was like good timing, because at that point, I had to move to residency with national team. So, yeah, man, that's how the career kind of kicked off. Did your family initially push this forward on here, or you just kind of gravitated to it? And you mentioned siblings, right? Did you, like, play with them? Yeah, so my brother also played, he actually went to RSO's Academy in Casa Grande, I believe.

I don't know if it's still there, I think so, but yeah, I for sure looked up to my brother and looked up to my dad because my dad also used to play. So they helped me, like, I still, like, got the love for it by myself, but obviously, like, being around them, always, like, going to my brother's soccer games, his tournament and stuff, like, it just made me want to play even more. So that really helped me get the love for it, man. But ever since I was little, I always was, like, messing around with the soccer ball, around the house. After FC Dallas, why achieve us? Why was that the move at that point in your career? Yeah, man, it was, like a hard time because at that, not a lot of people know about this, but I was going through a tough injury.

I had a stress fracture in my pelvis. And, yeah, it was crazy how it happened. Like, I was recovering at Dallas, and then on my, my last couple weeks of recovery. Out of nowhere, like, this interest from Chivas starts, like, coming up. And then it was either that or I was going to go to, like, an affiliate for FC Dallas. So obviously, once you, like, if you have, like, two options, you're for sure going to go to, like, a first division team instead of going to, like, another division team, you get me? Yeah.

So, yeah, like, I talked to, like, my coaching staff at the moment and stuff, and they, like, really recommended me to go down and pursue this. opportunity. So I was like, all right, it all happened. And yeah, man, it was just, it was crazy because obviously as a young kid living in the States, like having my first opportunity in Mexico. It was obviously going to be different. But it was for sure something that, like, I wanted to do. When you signed with Chivas, did you feel strongly about playing for Mexico, or you were just kind of like going with the flow? This is another thing that people don't know. but um I did know about the the like the rule that they only played with Mexicans right but in the moment they told me that and I made this clear for real like people don't know this

but I made it clear that um I asked them I was like are you sure like if I go I'll still be able to play with the like the US national team and they said uh yeah yeah like no problem like don't worry about that like we got it covered like you will I was like all right So once I get down there, I get called into like a U-20 camp. And then out of nowhere, like, they're not responding to like the emails that they're sending them. And then I had like talked to them and then it came to the point where they said like, oh, it's either you choose us, the club or or the national team. But obviously if I would choose national team, I would be without a club.

So then like it comes to the, I was a young kid when I was 18. it gets to the point when you're like, dang, what do I do? Because if I don't have a club team, like, where am I going to play? Where am I going to go, you know? Yeah. It was kind of like,

I don't want to say trap is a strong word, but, you know, you kind of had to... It was so weird because they told me, like, before you even getting there, they're like, I was going to be able to play with the USA and stuff. So, like, I was like, okay, so then I'm happy to go to, like, down to Mexico and play.

Like, I have no issue. If I would have known that before, it would have been, like, a whole, like, game changer. You get me? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Looking back, could you compare and contrast what the youth national team setups were like between the U.S. and Mexico? Could you just compare the programs? Like what the experience was like, what the coaching was like, what the vibe was like?

You're a unique example, right, where you could play for both, and then in the end you end up with one. Now you kind of look back and see what that's like from both sides of the rivalry. Yeah, I mean, I didn't go to a lot of youth camps with Mexico or like a lot of Mexican national team camps. So, um, I don't, I don't really like know how to compare that because, um, the coaching staff that I had over here in the States is also Latino and the coaching staff that I had in, in Mexico, like at club wise I'm talking about. Like, they're both like, Latino, not Hispanic, but Latino because they work the same, you know, like, as I say, like intensity and stuff.

So I don't know how I would compare. heard that but um when you saw the u.s regularly starting to be mexico under gregg like what was going through your mind uh yeah man i mean i would watch the games and stuff it's not like i would take it like very seriously it's just another for sure like once you know like they were going to play and stuff it's a game that you don't want to miss so i would watch them on tv and stuff like i would i would root for the boys but then i would also root for my teammates who would be at mexican national team so it's just like it's just a fun game for me man for your decision i wasn't impacting it too much or no no like like results wise and stuff like that no like i know like where i wanted to be and stuff so

progress hasn't been linear for you with the u.s um the goal cup had seemed like a big opportunity for you and then after that big expectations with that and then you don't get called up for a while you're in the coba squad um talk to me about that stretch and like how you navigate that how you get through that Yeah, Gold Cup wasn't easy for me that year. 2020, it was a tough year for me. In terms of injuries and stuff and, like, playing with, like, certain, like, things that were bothering me and stuff.

Don't want to say it's, like, an excuse, but, like, obviously when the player isn't, like, 100%, obviously he wants to be there, like, a little bit in any way he can, but you're not going to, like, say, like, oh, I can't play, you know, like, I don't think there's one player who would say that, especially for the country. Yeah, man, it was just a tough, tough tournament for me in that case because of how my, like, red legs were responding.

Because I don't, I had, like, a serious, like, hamstring injury. And then that kind of, like, played its toll, like, for a couple months. And then Gold Cup came. But, yeah, man, and then, uh, it came to the point where, like, I was, I was, I was chilling, man. Um, I knew that it was, every time, like, to get called in, it's, like, on you, you know? Like it's how you perform my club, how you're feeling and stuff. So I was calm. I just knew I had to get right first.

That's for sure. Like I needed a real good preseason to get my body right to like balance everything in my legs. And then I know just with time everything will come. If I just keep on working hard and like focusing on me, things will happen, you know. I was calm about that situation. You're here to stay, yeah? Yeah, man. I'm here to stay, bro.

Hopefully, bro. Like I said, it's all, it all depends on me. and how I'm doing on my club team. Obviously, this motivates me to keep on, like, grinding, keep on working hard. So hopefully I can have many more camps to go, man. What's your favorite role on the pitch, favorite position? For sure, right wing. I used to be a midfielder, actually, like, where I guess you could say, like,

where West plays now and stuff. But then as, like, my career, like, kind of got, like, into it. They pushed me out wide to the winger, but obviously, like, I'm not the fastest, guy. I'm not the most, like, say, like, skillful guy. I got my skills and stuff. Don't let me wrong, but I really like to, like, start out wide. But then, like, since I was a midfielder, like, I know how, like, the eight position, the 10 position works. So, like, to come inside into the middle and, like, play with, like, my teammates, you know? You think you could play deeper the U.S.? I mean, I know right now it's like a double pivot, right? Do you think you

play that deep or you like to be more advanced as, like, 8, 10? Yeah, probably like more advanced because I'm more like on the attacking side, but dude, at this point just like being here and like any position would fit for sure. But dude, there's so much depth in each position. Like there's so many great players out there that are already like in charge of those positions. So it's like just let them do them and then just focus on me and try to get into the mix, you know. Yeah, it seems like Podge is experimenting a lot too, right? Like you and the other night with Tillman playing like deeper. It seems like, you know, he's trying to.

different things so you're obviously versatile guy so it's someone to watch out before um yeah just stuff like that man oh he looked good out there so yeah uh there's reportedly been european interest in you is that something you're aiming for eventually dude that would be a dream for real um i would like i would tell my club team if it's some serious interest like dude i would go in a heartbeat for real that's that's a dream right there so hopefully i i didn't know about this but hopefully uh it could be something that that can happen in the future for sure is there a specific league you you think you fit in well at this point dude anywhere i'm going if anyone's knocking i'm going you still uh you still following barsa yeah man yeah they're going on a crazy crazy run right now man it's like they they're really

good obviously with like that golden arrow was back then but then they kind of like slacked a bit but then now they're back up so that's good for them and last one here from a listener have you tried any of the Michelin taco places i'm assuming they're talking about no i've seen them on on ticot uh i haven't um there's this i don't know if it's michelin but there's like this famous taco places like a bunch of tourists know about it's called orinoco uh they're good man but uh honestly i've had better for all they're really good don't get me wrong Like, it has its, like, own taste, the own spice to it, but there's for sure better out there.

Could you just compare, like, the lifestyle living in Guadalajara versus Ciudad de Mexico? Yeah, so, uh, Mexico City, man, it's a way bigger city, in my opinion. And it's cool because it has, like, its own suburbs and stuff. Like, it has its nice areas, and it has, like, some areas that you need to be careful with. But everyone always asked me, like, oh, man, is it scary over there? I'm like, no, like, dude, you're fine. Like, you're going to be perfectly. fine. If you're not like, if you're just focusing on you, like, doing what you're supposed to,

like, you're not into, like, some extra stuff out of the side of soccer, like, you're going to be fine, you know? A bunch of tourists go, like, there's actually areas where, like, a bunch of tourists live and, like, dude, they're living, like, their life. Like, it's so nice out there. Um, the only bad thing is the traffic, man. Comparing with traffic from Guadalajara and Mexico City at Cheneh in Mexico City is crazy, dude. I don't know how many, how there's so many cars there, dude. I feel you were. I lived in L.A. for five years. Similar, but our freeway is like, what L.A. freeways are probably like seven lanes. Us, we have, I think, like, three lanes.

But, like, the good thing about Mexico City is over there. So I guess the freeway's on the bottom, right? But then there's a, like, they made a freeway on top of that. Like a second, they call it the second floor. And to get on there, you need to pay, like, it's this thing called, like, a tag. And say, before getting on it, it's like a ramp. So before you get on that ramp. there's like a little, like a little, like a little, I don't know how to explain it,

but say it's like a little station where if there's like a machine that if it reads your tag and like you have a certain amount of money, obviously like the minimal money to get up there is like $2, right? If you have $2 on that thing, it'll open up and then you can go up the ramp and just like the second floor is usually like there's no traffic at all unless there's like an accident and stuff. Okay. You get me? Yeah, yeah.

So it's like, it gets you from point A, point B, like, way faster. So that's what, like, helps us out. But say if you don't have that, dude, you're going to be in traffic for two hours at least. Because you got to go, like, on the regular freeway, you get me? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and that's something that Wadalajara doesn't have right now. So their traffic is. Plus, when it starts raining, also in Mexico City, man.

Dang, when it starts raining, flooding gets crazy. Oh, shit, okay. Yeah, dude. Yeah, flooding gets crazy. Like, you got to be careful out there. Anything else you want the fans to know about you? Anything we didn't cover? Anything that you like to share about yourself that maybe people don't see?

No, man. I know it's a tough road. It's not easy being around a bunch of cracks. That's how they would say it in Mexico. But yeah, man, just to know that I'm working hard, trying to make my way, I'm trying to get a spot. And yeah, man, just to keep on supporting me, the guys, the team, because good things are coming in the future, man.

Appreciate you. Thanks for coming on. Appreciate you guys.