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Super Chivas stumble, suffer stunning exit from Copa

By Thomas Buckley

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - JANUARY 25: Players of Chivas pose for photos prior the 3rd round match between Chivas and Toluca as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - JANUARY 25: Players of Chivas pose for photos prior the 3rd round match between Chivas and Toluca as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /
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Slow start for Chivas has fans getting antsy
Chivas fans expected their beloved team to race to a title this season after the club’s big spending spree during the winter transfer window. So far, the Chivas have not lived up to their outsized expectations (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /

Give coach Tena and all-new ‘Rebaño Sagrado’ time to grow

Overzealous Chivas fans started dreaming about hanging up championship banner No. 13 as each new signing by GM Peláez and owner Amaury Vergara was announced in December. You can’t blame them for being giddy, but you just figured reality would bite them in the ass in January.

The list of new Chivas is more than impressive striker J.J. Macías, 20, left back Cristian Calderón, 22, and winger Uriel Antuna, 22, are likely to be stalwarts with El Tri for the next two World Cup cycles. Those three alone merit excitement among fans, but Peláez recruited five other players.

Veteran midfield bulldog José Juan Vázquez returned to the club as did young striker Ronaldo Cisneros, 23, midfielder Jesús Angulo, 22, defender Alexis Peña, 24, and veteran right back José Madueña.

Chatter on social media went straight to hyperbole, setting up the team – and coach Luis Fernando Tena – for a quick fall. And after a 1-2- start to the Clausura 2020 and the Copa elimination at the hands of a second-division club, the rabble is already mustering for a #FueraTena campaign.

The Chivas were a mediocre 7-4-7 last season, winning four of their final five games after Tena took over in midseason. In essence, Peláez undertook a complete roster overhaul that should result in five new starters.

Any time a team remakes their roster so comprehensively, growing pains will ensue. Tena has had very little time to incorporate his new players into his tactical schemes as preseason was little more than two weeks. The learning curve for younger players is typically longer, so it should come as no surprise that the team has not immediately turned into a juggernaut. Some fans obviously think this is nothing more than plug-and-play. That’s nonsense!

Besides “Gallito” Vázquez and Madueña, the newest Chivas must still be considered prospects (with promising futures, to be sure). They’ll need time to adapt to new faces, new tactics, new coach, as well as the pressure of playing with Mexico’s most popular team. Former L.A. Galaxy star Antuna also must adjust to a whole new league.

These concerns come on top of the fact that the ninth big acquisition – midfield dynamo Víctor Guzmán – was forced off the roster after a failed drugs test was revealed. “El Pocho” was expected to line up alongside Javier “La Chofis” López and spark the Chivas attack.

The maturation process requires patience. Labeling this unproven squad the Super Chivas was a disservice. Let’s hope long-suffering Chivas fans allow Tena and the all-new “Rebaño Sagrado” (“Sacred Flock”) to find themselves before tossing the noose over the nearest tree.

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