Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who was officially unveiled as Mexico manager by that country's federation on Monday, said he thinks Mexico have evolved to be "among the best" over the past 20 years.
Martino's official acceptance and the announcement of the deal ended several months' worth of speculation that Martino -- who won the 2018 MLS Coach of the Year award with Atlanta United -- would take over El Tri at the conclusion of the season.
In his presentation at federation offices in Mexico City on Monday, the Argentina native singled out Mexico's development as the main reason he took the job offer.
"I saw Mexico as one of the teams that has evolved the most in the last 20 years," Martino told reporters. "To be able to play right up there with some of the best in the world shows how far Mexico have come.
"The main characteristic is the level of talent that the Mexican football players have and that sets the team apart. There is a mix of veterans and young players not just in Liga MX but also playing in Europe," he said. "I am not here to make demands. I am here to share my opinions. But I am very happy to see that we have young players such as [Diego] Lainez and [Roberto] Alvarado. We will be looking to see that they grow."