Tigres striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has praised the scale and quality of Mexican football, saying it could be more powerful than France and is the reference point on the American continent.

"Mexico is a big footballing country, maybe even more competitive and more powerful than France," he said.

Gignac, 30, left Marseille for Tigres last summer and helped his new club reach the Copa Libertadores final and win the Liga MX Apertura title. His form earned him a recall to the France squad and Tigres have continued to enjoy success in 2016.



"I played 10 seasons [in Ligue 1] -- I can compare them," he said. "Here there is more passion, more identification with the club, more respect for the players and the colours. People in France talk a lot about MLS, the United States, and its expansion. It's good -- but it's nothing compared to Liga MX".

"Even my Argentinean and Brazilian teammates at Tigres, who are internationals, tell me that the Mexican league has become better than their own. It's the reference in South, Central and North America."

http://www.espnfc.us/mexican-liga-mx...-pierre-gignac

Happy Cinco de Mayo.