Chivas face tumultuous summer after wildcard flop

Front office set to wheel-and-deal

As the offseason lurched forward, the Chivas were frantically negotiating with Pachuca to pry the versatile Erick Aguirre from the Tuzos. The 24-year-old left back/midfielder/winger is the captain of Mexico’s Olympic team and was targeted by Guadalajara in the summer of 2020, but talks fell apart.

A deal seems improbable again this summer although the Chivas are working hard to maintain a positive spin. Simply put, the lack of funds make it difficult to put together a package that will convince Pachuca to part with their young star. “El Nene” Beltrán has been dangled as part of a trade (much to the chagrin of Necaxa fans who envision the spritely playmaker guiding their team’s offense next season).

The Chivas are also reportedly looking at repatriating Rodolfo Pizarro, a member of the Clausura 2017 championship team (he’s playing with Inter Miami in MLS), as well as Marcel Ruiz and Jaime Gómez, two Tijuana players who Vucetich coached at Querétaro. But Inter Miami and Tijuana are unwilling to make trades, preferring cold hard cash.

There could be hope though. A recent report had the Tigres looking at “Chicote” Calderón and “Canelo” Angulo. Selling those two could be a huge boost to the Chivas’ bottom line but is Peláez ready to give up on the enigmatic Calderón? And the loss of Angulo could be offset by the addition of Aguirre, right? But that story has not re-appeared and the Tigres underwent a coaching change since that April report.

But the Chivas need more than Aguirre. There were reports that the club was searching for a goalie – José Antonio Rodríguez and Raúl Gudiño have both had chances to claim the job, but have failed to convince – with one story suggesting Cruz Azul’s 40-year-old keeper Jesús Corona (a Guadalajara native) was a target.

The Chivas were linked to long-time Mexico central defender Héctor Moreno who was playing in Qatar, but he signed with Monterrey this week. Earlier, El Tri defender Néstor Araujo was a rumored target. With Hiram Mier yet to return from a long-term injury, and Gilberto Sepúlveda and Antonio Briseña coming up short, the back line needs to be addressed.

Up front, J.J. Macías has failed to live up to expectations (Vucetich claimed the 21-year-old striker lost focus after a potential move to Europe fell through) and winger Uriel Antuna (another December 2019 acquisition) has flashed hot-and-cold. Only Alexis Vega appears to be on tune.

The telenovela continues off the field, too. Antuna was booed by home fans late in the season after he confessed that a return to European football would mean more to him than a trophy with the Chivas. To make matters worse, Record reported that Antuna did not seek club permission to speak to the media – as required by team policy – so his was another act in an ongoing series of disciplinary issues.

Whatever happens this summer, much will be expected of “King Midas,” but the veteran manager also knows the Chivas will be short-handed in the early stages of the Apertura 2021. Up to six players (including Vega, Antuna, Macías, Antuna and Sepúlveda) could be playing for Mexico’s Olympic team when the season kicks off.

Still and all, Vucetich and Peláez are well aware that their jobs are on the line, and Chivas fans will not be inclined to be patient.