Santos Laguna’s Oscar Bernal makes his debut for los Guerreros in their 1-1 home tie against Puebla on February 27.
It’s always nice to see young players prove themselves and get a chance at the next level, and that’s exactly the kind of thing you see in Mexico.
Santos Laguna — well known for developing players through the ranks and seeing through their careers until they’re either professionals with the team or can be sold or loaned to other teams — debuted one of its younger players recently.
Other youth players at Santos have received opportunities before and have done well as a result. Javier Abella made his debut with the first team as a teenager and just reached is 100th start at age 22, and in 2014, Santos used then-U17 player Ronaldo Cisneros in Copa MX – a competition it won that same tournament.
This time, it was 20 year old Mexico youth defender Oscar Bernal who started and played almost 60 minutes in los Guerreros’ 1-1 tie with Puebla.
Bernal is from Ciudad Juarez, where he grew up and played until moving to Torreon as a young teenager.
Here’s what the club published on its English-language web page earlier today.
Continuing the ideology of preparing its players for success in the First Division, Santos Laguna debuted another player in its most recent home game against Puebla on February 27.
Having spent five years at Santos, working his way from the youth teams up to training with the first team, Oscar Bernal started at right back, his first league start under head coach Luis Zubeldia.
Bernal, a native of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua and who arrived to Torreon at age 15, played 59 minutes in Santos’ 1-1 tie with la Franja during week 8.
After his league debut, the defender reflected on his experience with the club.
Santos: How was your debut? What did you think?
OB: Many things. The first that comes to mind is my family and all the effort that has kept me here. I arrived five years ago and since then I’ve been working, being constant, all of which has brought me joy and now I have the chance to play with the first team.
Santos: Did your coaches do anything specifically to prepare you?
OB: I think it was mostly working hard, staying to work a little harder after training to improve some aspects, but also the support from coches and peers who helped me on the field.
Santos: How would you describe the difference between playing here in Santos in Ciudad Juarez?
OB: Very different by sacrifice, by distance — I had everything there: my family, my house, but sacrifice has its reward and most of all the work, I am very happy here with Santos and now I have my story here.
Santos: Who is part of your family in Juarez?
OB: My dad, my mom and two brothers, a sister and a brother, some nephews.
Bernal won two U20 championships with los Guerreros (2013, 2015) the 2015 Under 20 CONCACAF Championship, and participated in the 2015 U20 World Cup with Mexico.
