Gregg Berhalter admits to 'fiercely disliking' Mexico's soccer team

US men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter admitted the American side “fiercely dislikes” Mexico’s soccer team after triumphing against them in Cincinnati on Friday night. 

The tension between the two countries is nothing new. The US-Mexico rivalry is considered one of the most intense in the history of soccer, commencing in 1934 and escalating every year. 

Teams usually take out their frustrations against each other on the pitch, but this time USMNT head coach Berhalter made the situation very clear. 

“We fiercely dislike Mexico's soccer team, right, and we're fierce competitors and we want to win every time on the field,'' Berhalter said.

“We talked about how we thought they didn’t think they gave us enough respect, and we had to go out and earn it and I think we went out and earned it today.”

The tables turned on Friday as the American side defeated their rival for a third consecutive time, a moment the US head coach believes finally earned Mexico’s acclaim. 

USMNT and Lille player Timothy Weah echoed his coach’s thoughts. 

“Before the game Mexico was talking a lot of smack, and beating them shuts them up,” Weah said. “We have to continue to win games and continue to beat them, and that’s the only way we’re going to earn their respect.”

Before concluding, Berhalter made it a point to speak on the respect the USMNT has for their opponents, regardless of any tension. 

"Afterwards, you shake hands and you move on. We have a lot of respect for them.''

The victory inspired the American side to climb atop the Concacaf table with 14 points in six games, narrowly edging Mexico out of the lead with a higher goal difference. 

They travel to Jamaica on Tuesday as the World Cup qualifiers continue.