As he prepared the squad for Sunday's 12noon showdown at Arsenal, Mauricio took a brief trip down memory lane to his first derby as a young defender at Newells Old Boys in Argentina.
Mauricio joined the famous Argentine club's Academy set-up aged 14 in 1987 and progressed through to the first team under renowned coach Marcelo Bielsa, winning the Premiera Division in 1990-91.
Newell's Old Boys derby rivals are Rosario Central. "It was my first derby and what we all we felt at that moment is difficult to replicate," said Mauricio. "If I need to take one (derby in his career), that’s maybe the most important.