As part of the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, fans of the Mexican national football team have expressed their dissatisfaction with coach José Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre, due to the team's poor performance in the cup's matches.

On June 19, 2013, the Mexican team was defeated 2-0 by the host, Brazil, in Fortaleza. Some days earlier, on Sunday June 16, the Mexican team lost a match against Italy, the squadra azzurra, in the legendary Maracaná Stadium.

Journalist and football fan León Krauze [es] considers “Chepo” de la Torre has managed to convince his players of their own deficiencies, instead of their virtues, so they have faced their commitments cowardly. About this, he noted:

En el futbol, como en la vida, la cobardía es imperdonable. Por eso, Chepo debe irse.

In football, as in life, cowardice is unforgivable. That's why Chepo must go.

From Brazil, blogger Sopitas [es] anticipated the implications of losing the game against the local team:

México está obligado a sumar contra Brasil a como de lugar. Una derrota más, nos dejaría eliminados de la Copa Confederaciones a las primeras de cambio.  El Tri  ha sido exhibido y ahora vemos que el problema no es que Jamaica, Panamá o Costa Rica “se nos encerraran” [jugaran defensivamente].

El fútbol ha desaparecido, el ánimo está por los suelos y todo parece indicar que José Manuel de la Torre, tiene las horas contadas al frente del Tricolor.

Mexico has to add points against Brazil, whatever it takes. One more defeat, and we will be left out the Confederations Cup, given half a chance. The Tri [for Tricolour, as the Mexican team is popularly known] has been exhibited, and now we see the problem is not that Jamaica, Panama nor Costa Rica “got us locked in” [to play defensively].

The football has disappeared, the mood is down in the dumps and everything makes us think José Manuel de la Torre has his days counted as coach of the Tricolour.

Image by Hugo Lopez 365 alpha on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

On Twitter, the tone of comments about the issue are not that moderate, and apparently there is consensus among the fans that the Mexican national team coach should step aside.

Actor Gael García Bernal (@GaelGarciaB) highlighted the name of the football players he considers have had a good performance, but he is for changing the technical director (coach).

@GaelGarciaB: No me agüito [desanimo]: Mier, Gio, Moreno, Corona y Guardado jugaron bien. Salcido y Herrera tuvieron destellos. Aún así, cambiaría de técnico ya.

@GaelGarciaB [es]: I'm not discouraged: Mier, Gio, Moreno, Corona and Guardado played well. Salcido and Herrera had their moments. Nevertheless, I'd change technical [director] now.

Jorge Trejo (@TreEjoO) said that the Mexican team lacks tactics:

@TreEjoO: Hoy comprobe q Mexico tiene equipo…pero no tiene tecnico ni estrategia #FueraChepo [sic]

@TreEjoO [es]: Today I confirmed that Mexico has a team… but it doesn't have a technical [director] nor a strategy. #FueraChepo [go Chepo]

Meanwhile, user Hector Pavlovich (@HectorPvch) threatened that he would stop following the team if the coach is not changed:

@HectorPvch: Mientras este el Chepo no vere ningun partido del tri #FueraChepo [sic]

@HectorPvch: While Chepo is in, I won't watch any of the Tri's matches #FueraChepo

User edwin & steffany (@edwinpaclan) had a more optimistic approach, mentioning what will have to happen for the team to not be disqualified from the tournament. But he joined the outcry asking José Manuel de la Torre to quit:

@edwinpaclan Tranquilos, solo necesitamos que Japón y Brasil le ganen a Italia y que México golee a Japón para estar dentro… #FueraChepo

@edwinpaclan [es]: Take it easy, we just need Japan and Brazil to defeat Italy and Mexico to destroy Japan to be in… #FueraChepo

Javier Pons Gil (@javipons) questioned that the leading broadcaster in Mexico (Televisa, which has a share in decisions related to the national football team) isn't joining the voices asking “Chepo” de la Torre to step aside:

@javipons Hace unos años por menos Televisa y sus paleros [personas que le apoyan] pedían la renuncia de Hugo Sánchez, por que no lo hacen con el #Chepo ahora? [sic]

@javipons [es]: Some years back at least, Televisa and its supporters demanded Hugo Sánchez to quit, why aren't they doing the same now with #Chepo?

José Manuel de la Torre was appointed as coach of Mexico's national football team on October 18, 2010, in replacement for Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre and after a rare temporary period led by Enrique “el ojitos” Meza.

Under “Chepo” de la Torre, the team won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2011, but has had some difficulties during the 2014 Brazil Football World Cup qualifiers, where the team has only won one game, against Jamaica.