Adrian Mora – Toluca’s hulking centre-back presence
With four wins and two losses as well as back-to-back victories over Tigres and Chivas Guadalajara, Toluca are one of the surprise packages in Liga MX this season with a strong academy as they have a resolute defence and an attack built on quick vertical moves in the opposition half. An academy product and leader of that resolute defence is Adrian Mora who recently turned 23-years-old and has had a distinguished career at youth level. He travelled to China with the Toluca youth side to win a tournament while he was also part of Mexican U22 side that travelled to France last year for the Toulon tournament. He will be a target for European sides if he continues his strong performances for a Toluca side that currently sits in second place in Liga MX.
Mora was close to a move to Tigres in the summer as the two clubs were locked in on negotiations for a frustratingly long period of time with Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti commenting that the centre-back had not reached his full potential yet. Mora remained at Toluca for the benefit of Toluca and his own career as centre-back from Chihuahua has been one of the shining lights for the Liga MX side. Toluca represent a difficult proposition because of Mora’s stewardship from defence as he is a modern-day centre-back who should be on the cusp of making his debut with the Mexican National Team.
Mora stands tall at 6 feet and 3 inches as a hulking centre-back presence who is quick in tight spaces to charge down opposition attacks and make cleverly timed challenges. He also closes down spaces efficiently making brilliantly timed interceptions with quick bursts over short spaces to slide and regain possession for his side before distributing possession quickly. He is a modern-day defender as he is adept at defending in a high-line, hanging touch tight to attackers as when the ball moves into their zone, he will use his body leverage to put himself in between his opponent and the ball to regain possession with a timely challenge without conceding a foul to then drive into the opposition half to work the ball to a teammate. He also has the physicality and intelligence to subtly nudge the attacker out of the way to regain possession before pushing forward to work the ball.
Toluca’s defence alternates from a two centre-back system to a three centre-back system during games in defensive situations as against Monterrey, it caused confusion for Mora and his defensive partners. The Mexican was unsure whether to push up in some situations to move tight against attacker or support his fullback as the midfielder dropping in between the centre-backs was unsure over when he should drop into defence to create a three-chain. This left gaping holes in the defence that were exploited by Monterrey as they scored two goals with through balls, working passes into open alleys and the channels. Mora and his teammates were unsure of their positions and in the interchanges in formation as they lacked the synchronisation to properly close down passing lanes.
However, as the season has progressed, the defence have become more comfortable with Jose Manuel De La Torre’s system, they have shown more resolve and grit in defence. The issues against Monterrey showed that they were more of tactics issue than an issue with Mora’s positioning and reading of the game. His positioning and reading of defensive situations is sound and astute as even when the ball is on the far flank, he will remain touch tight to his marker within the box as when the cross is delivered, he will be positioned goal-side of his marker to make a timely clearance or if there is a second-ball situation, he has the speed over short distances to make a block or clearance.
The 23-year-old’s preferred method of regaining possession is with interceptions as he will use his quickness to push forward in the defensive shape to make sliding interceptions before setting his team on the attack. He is not just a tigerish defensive presence in a high line but also in a low block as he makes crucial interventions. He normally likes to play tight to his markers so if they manage to beat him, he will be able to match a pacier attacker stride for stride before making a challenge or force them wider. He is also adept in defending the wider areas which is integral when Toluca switch to a back three as he has the quickness to remain shoulder to shoulder with a pacy winger before making a well-timed challenge without conceding a foul.
Mora’s presence is felt at both ends of the pitch as he is a gifted ball-playing defender as well as a resolute defensive force. Mora is a left sided centre-back as high quality left sided centre-backs are thought of as a rarity in the higher echelons of football. He will allow the ball to roll across his body to work one-touch passes in between the lines or to the wide areas as well as driving the ball forward into the opposition half to thread passes through tight passing lanes. His long-range passing is one of his best assets as he can ping accurate lobbed balls in behind to runners in the final third as this mode of distribution works against sides that will press Toluca high. In the match against Monterrey, he lobbed a pass into the wide areas which resulted in a cross which was tapped in at the back post for his side to pull one back.
Against Tigres, he began the game by working a peach of a switch ball with his left foot to the far side of the pitch as he worked another one to put his side in a 2v2 situation on the weak side. Mora’s distribution could allow him to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third as against Chivas, he worked a one-two with a teammate to continue his run into the opposition half before working a pass for a teammate to have a shot blocked. Against Chivas, he did a stout job in closing down JJ Macias in the first half as the young striker had to switch to the opposite side to have an influence on the game. The 23-year-old also has the ability to pass and receive the ball with his right foot which allows him to distribute the ball quicker while he can also feint and turn out of pressure.
Against Chivas, he played with a younger teammate making his debut in Brandon Sartiaguin who came off the bench after an injury. Mora and the 20-year-old still managed to guide Toluca to victory as it is also integral to remember that Mora was involved in two goals in the Mexican side’s victory against Tigres. For Toluca’s first goal, a free-kick was headed into his path for Mora to lob a pass through for Enrique Triverio to apply a calm finish. He regained possession with one of his patented interceptions in added time to set Toluca on the attack to win a throw in on the opposite flank as Alexis Canelo dummied the ball and smashed in a winner for his side. Mora could also be a threat for his side in set-piece opportunities with his height and aerial abilities.
Toluca finished in 17th last season but Mora has spoken of a renewed sense of energy and vigour under their new manager while they have also utilized homegrown players this season. Mora is also targeting next year’s Olympics in Tokyo as a stage to make an impact as many scouts will be in awe of such a well-rounded defender who would be available for a reasonable price. Right now, Toluca are focused on maintaining their high position in the table, so they can have an opportunity at the Clausura amongst the figureheads of Mexican football.
