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Liga MX: America faces rocky road to 14th league title

By Thomas Buckley

America players pose before their match against Tijuana on Jan. 24. The game ended in a scoreless draw (Photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
America players pose before their match against Tijuana on Jan. 24. The game ended in a scoreless draw (Photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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America’s goalie Guillermo Ochoa (L) saves a shot from Enner Valencia of Tigres during the Mexican Clausura 2020 tournament football match between Tigres and America at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, on January 18, 2020. (Photo by ROCIO VAZQUEZ / AFP) (Photo by ROCIO VAZQUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
America’s goalie Guillermo Ochoa (L) saves a shot from Enner Valencia of Tigres during the Mexican Clausura 2020 tournament football match between Tigres and America at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, on January 18, 2020. (Photo by ROCIO VAZQUEZ / AFP) (Photo by ROCIO VAZQUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) /

The Aguilas hope to tread water early in the Liga MX season as their roster is stretched thin by injuries and absences.

Perennial title favorite America appears to be in for a long Clausura, but that doesn’t mean they can’t at least replicate last season’s Finals appearance.

Coach Miguel Herrera has been unable to use a first-choice line-up due to injuries and absences and that reality is evident on the scoresheet. Still, the Aguilas remain undefeated (1-1-0) though they have just one goal in two matches.

The biggest absence for America is two-time league MVP Guido Rodríguez who was sold to Real Betis earlier this month, leaving a big hole in the Aguilas midfield. His smothering defense will be missed, but his ability to follow play forward and contribute to offense must also be replaced.

Without an ideal replacement for Guido, Herrera has opted to use a 5-man back line, but his choices up front are also limited.

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The hero of the Aguilas run to the Apertura 2019 Finals, Uruguayan Federico Viñas, is in Colombia playing in the Conmebol Olympics qualifying tournament. Midfield playmaker Nico Benedetti is also there starring for the host nation.

Colombia has already qualified for the semifinals of the tournament, so “El Poeta” will not be back in Mexico City until mid-February. Viñas could be back in camp next week if Uruguay fails to advance out of the group stage.

Another youngster missing in action is defender Adrian Goransch, but his story is more convoluted. The promising 21-year-old was born in Puebla. His German father was working at the Volkswagen plant there, but returned to Germany with his family and Goransch grew up in the Wolfsburg soccer academy. Despite his dual passports, his development at Wolfsburg means the defender counts as a “foreigner” in the eyes of the Liga MX. When America signed Argentine midfielder Santiago Cáseres on Jan. 30, it was forced to jettison Goransch from the roster since the club was at the limit of foreign players allowed.

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