The center back says he's matured since the 2015 Gold Cup and now could contribute to the U.S., though for now his focus is on the Liguilla
If you remember Ventura Alvarado, you probably don't remember him like 2019 Ventura Alvarado.
This season's Alvarado enters the playoffs as the lynchpin of the Necaxa defense. Quick to get to the ball and challenge attackers, he's settled into his role as the starting center back on the left side with 30 starts between the 2018 Apertura and 2019 Clausura.
Tonight he'll captain Necaxa against Monterrey in the first leg of a Liga MX quarterfinal, with the armband a reminder of how far he's come as a person and how much he's improved as a player in the last year.