The Tigres are scheduled to leave on Friday for Qatar where the Liga MX powerhouse will take part in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup. (Yes, that’s right. It’s officially called the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup).
After the Monterrey-based club won the Concacaf Champions League title in December, there was considerable debate about whether or not the Tigres could become the first Liga MX team to make the Final of the Club World Cup.
That debate has been short-circuited as the Tigres have been hit by worrisome injuries.
Leading scorer André-Pierre Gignac has missed the club’s past two games with a deep-muscle tear in his right hip suffered in training on Jan. 14. There is concern that he will not be sufficiently recovered to make the trip, but official reports say he is “recovering satisfactorily.”
Liga MX injury bug: When it rains, it pours
A day later, back-up forward Nicolás “Diente” López limped off the training ground with an ankle injury. Too make matters worse, a few days later he tested positive for coronavirus.
As if that weren’t enough, new acquisition Carlos González picked up an injury to his right calf during the Jan. 23 match against Atlas and he, too, is a question mark for the Club World Cup.
González was acquired from the Pumas after helping the Mexico City club reach the Guardianes 2020 Finals. In his first three games with the Tigres, the Paraguayan forward contributed two goals and Tigres fans had visions of another Liga MX title with Gignac and González leading a potent attack.
The Tigres face South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in their opening CWC match on Feb. 4. With a win, “Los Felinos” advance to a semifinal match against the South American champion which will be decided in the all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores Final on Jan. 30 (Palmeiras vs Santos).
Pumas suffer similar fate
After losing González to the Tigres during the winter transfer window, the Pumas knew goals would be at a premium. Just two weeks into the Guardianes 2021 season, the club is learning to live without the other half of their dynamic duo of last season, Juan Ignacio Dinenno.
Early in the Pumas’ Matchday 2 win over Mazatlán, the team’s top scoring threat (Dinenno scored 12 goals in Liga MX last season) suffered a severe left thigh strain that will sideline him for four more weeks.
Coach Andrés Lillini had no veteran back-ups at his disposal and has been forced to throw academy prospects into action. Emanuel Montejano responded last week, but was ineffective during Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Querétaro.
The front office went shopping and has identified a replacement – Paraguayan striker Isidro Pitta. The 21-year-old stars for Olimpia in his native country and is said to have interest in playing in Liga MX. However, Olimpia says it will only accept a buy-out, rejecting UNAM’s offer to arrange a loan deal. The Liga MX transfer window slams shut on Sunday so the Pumas have only a few days to make a decision.