“Coming to Mexico was the best decision of my life,” – Portugal striker Paulinho on Toluca’s title win | OneFootball

Toluca were crowned champions in Mexico at the weekend, lifting the Clausura title after overcoming Club America 2-0 across two legs in the series final.

Without doubt the star man for the Red Devils has been experienced Portuguese striker Paulinho, who has scored 28 goals in 42 matches since arriving in Mexico last summer. Speaking after clinching the trophy, Paulinho says he made a great choice to depart Sporting for Toluca.

"A year ago, I thought I was crazy to come and play in Mexico, now I realize it was the best decision of my life,” he told the media on the field at the Estadio Nemesio Díez. “The fans deserve the championship more than we do.”

Toluca drew the first leg 0-0 away in Mexico City – a match Paulinho missed due to ongoing physical issues. Indeed, the 32-year-old was unable to finish their 2-0 victory in the second leg, being replaced on 72 minutes, and admitted that watching from the sidelines is far more stressful than attempting to make the difference on the pitch.

"I thought that in the future I could be a coach, but no, being off the pitch is much worse, for me it's not good, because off the pitch we are much more nervous,” he said. “On the pitch it's difficult, but we know we can help. We played two great games.”

Paulinho’s numbers in Mexico have not always seen him avoid scrutiny, with occasional snipes from the media about his ability to score in bigger games answered emphatically with goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finales stages of the play-offs. Meanwhile, other journalists have praised the Portuguese in defying a suspicion that European players struggle to adapt in Mexican football.