The two most popular teams in Liga MX are expecting a busy summer, but while América is in a retooling mode, the Chivas must undertake a mini-rebuild.
Both Mexican giants fell short of expectations this past season and then headed into vacation having to deal with self-inflicted turmoil.
In Mexico City, the high-flying Aguilas spent the season nipping at the heels of a record-breaking Cruz Azul side, finishing second. With visions of a “Clásico Joven” showdown in the Finals, América forgot to take care of business and was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, in Guadalajara, the Chivas spent most of the Guardianes 2021 looking up at the playoff spots after vowing to finish in the top four. A late-season push allowed “El Rebaño Sagrado” to claim a middling wildcard spot only to be unceremoniously blown out by Pachuca.
Chivas giveth and Chivas taketh away
Ricardo Peláez took the Guadalajara GM job in December 2019 with a clear mandate: End the franchise’s 3-year playoff drought and win the Liga MX title. The new boss spent freely to rejuvenate the roster and expectations spiked.
Peláez’s first season in charge was the doomed Clausura 2020 (canceled after 10 games due to the Covid pandemic). Though the Chivas would have made the playoffs, the results were uninspiring.
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The Guardianes 2020 regular season was not much better (a wildcard berth earned after a mid-season coaching change), but the Liga MX playoffs suggested the Chivas were on the right path. “Los Rojiblancos” stunned third-seeded América in the quarterfinals (sending their rabid fan base into ecstasy) but bowed out to eventual champion León in the semifinals.
Financial issues related to the pandemic prevented any real roster adjustments ahead of the Guardianes 2021 (Alex Mayorga and César Huerta returned from loan deals), but Peláez declared the Chivas would claim a first-round bye and put up a genuine title fight.
Three-quarters of the way through the season, coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich was on a very hot seat as the Chivas were in the bottom third of the Liga MX table. The offense was in a shambles and the defense was error-prone.
Peláez’s acumen was being questioned as the youthful stars in which he invested so heavily were underperforming and Vucetich was grumbling about a lack of discipline and commitment. Fans wondered if “King Midas” had lost his touch, complaining that Vucetich’s calculating style of play was part of the problem.
A three-game win streak down the stretch momentarily papered over some of the issues, but it all came apart in a disastrous second-half in the wildcard match in Pachuca.
The Chivas scored in minute 10 and led 1-0 at the half, seemingly poised for another clash against América in the quarterfinals. That is until Guadalajara napped through the next 45 minutes. Two headers off corner kicks by Pachuca defender Oscar Murillo and a brace from young Tuzos striker Roberto de la Rosa burst the dream of another playoff “Super Clásico.”