Lozano Backs Cabral After Alleged Racist Remark Toward Rüdiger

Pachuca head coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding an alleged racist insult directed by his player Cabral toward Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger during their Club World Cup match. While FIFA investigates, Lozano said he had no prior knowledge of the incident and firmly defended his player.

“I just found out. We haven’t discussed it in the locker room, and I haven’t spoken to Cabral about it,” Lozano said during his press conference at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. “But knowing Cabral, I can put my hand in the fire for him. He’s never had any issues with teammates or opponents.”

On the sporting side, Lozano expressed disappointment over the missed chance to beat Real Madrid: “We lacked finishing. The team gave it everything, and we even had a man advantage. These are big opportunities, and it hurts not to take them.”

He praised young prospect Montiel as one of Pachuca’s brightest academy talents: “He’s a gem. We know we won’t have him for long—it’s part of what we do as a development club.”

Despite Pachuca’s elimination from the tournament, Lozano closed with a message of determination: “This is football, this is life. We have a lot to work on. If we want to succeed internationally, we need to sustain our good spells for longer periods.”