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Liga MX clubs start push toward July recommencement

By Thomas Buckley

The Liga MX is scheduled to restart with a new season on July 24. However, play will begin without fans in the stands with officials hoping this sculpture of a fan inside Estadio Azteca will have company by September. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The Liga MX is scheduled to restart with a new season on July 24. However, play will begin without fans in the stands with officials hoping this sculpture of a fan inside Estadio Azteca will have company by September. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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José Juan Macías, Chivas (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

After Clausura 2020 was scrapped, the Apertura now a month away.

Mexico is among the few nations that canceled its soccer season. Now as European leagues begin finishing up their suspended campaigns, the Liga MX is preparing to re-open training camps and prepare for the Apertura 2020.

League officials announced July 24 as the target date for kickoff and players are in the process of reporting to team facilities for Covid-19 tests. Already, more than 40 players and staff have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 15 players with Santos Laguna who tested positive in mid-May.

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In addition to health concerns, clubs must also deal with the impact of loss of revenue. The fiscal pinch of the pandemic suggests there won’t be many big-money signings and it will surely affect how teams formulate their roster for the Apertura.

The devaluation of the peso as a result of the economic crisis also poses a big problem since many contracts are made out in dollars. That will change moving forward after league owners voted to mandate that contracts will be based on the Mexican currency.

During the upcoming transfer window, teams are likely to be sellers rather than buyers. The Chivas for example, spent freely in the December/January transfer window and underperformed so they might be obliged to hold a fire sale.

Chivas moves titillate Liga MX fans

Despite their payroll issues, the Chivas sparked rumors that they were trying to repatriate Erick Gutiérrez. The former Pachuca star has not excelled during his two years with PSV Eindhoven. “Guti” might prefer playing at home, thinking he might get more of an opportunity to impress El Tri coach Gerardo Martino. However, after PSV brought in a new coach, “Guti” decided to remain in the Eredivisie.

So, the Chivas extended home-grown midfield playmaker Eduardo “Chofis” López and re-hired forward Ángel Zaldívar as a hedge against the departure of 20-year-old striker J.J. Macías who could be sold to a European club to help relieve the financial stress.

The Chivas would love to acquire Monterrey defender César Montes, but Spain’s Valencia is taking a close look at the youngster. Guadalajara already has a surplus of back-liners – Antonio Briseño, Alexis Peña, Hiram Mier and José Madueña. Peña and Madueña – both acquired in December – could be sold off and Briseño might be shipped out too.

Necaxa is asking about Madueña and Briseño, as well as goalie Raúl Gudiño.

One player on Guadalajara’s wish list was Morelia skipper Aldo Rocha who has anchored the Monarcas midfield the past two seasons. The León native is out of contract this summer and he was being recruited by América, the Chivas and the Pumas. The Chivas were dangling midfield bulldog José Juan Vázquez as trade bait as “El Gallito” is unhappy with his lack of playing time since returning to Guadalajara for the Clausura 2020.

Though the swap might have seemed appealing to the new team in Sinaloa, reports over the weekend suggested that Rocha had traveled to Mazatlán.

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