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Atlas, Puebla battle to stalemate; Cruz Azul in crisis

By Thomas Buckley

Puebla's Maxi Araujo (right) tormented the Atlas defense for much of their match, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
Puebla's Maxi Araujo (right) tormented the Atlas defense for much of their match, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX M5 1
Cruz Azul coach Juan Reynoso offered to resign Friday night after three top executives were dismissed in a shocking move that is still not fully understood. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

Cementeros front office sacked, Reynoso weighs his future

As the Cruz Azul management team was earning plaudits after overhauling a roster that won the Liga MX title only eight months ago, there were rumblings from within and without. The result was the dismissal of team president Álvaro Dávila and two other executives, a move that prompted coach Juan Reynoso to submit his resignation.

Apparently Reynoso has reconsidered his hasty reaction – the Peruvian manager has been at odds with general manager Jaime Ordiales since he was hired, a decision that Ordiales allegedly opposed. So Cruz Azul expects to have its coach on the sidelines for tonight’s game against Necaxa with a chance to move into first place.

The cataclysmic front office shuffle is a complicated mess related to the restructuring of the club’s management team dating back to the disappearance of team president Guillermo Álvarez (now a fugitive from justice, facing embezzlement and money-laundering charges).

It is not entirely clear who is in charge and for how long. Despite this, Ordiales arranged a contract extension for Paraguayan defender Juan Escobar who is now tied to the Cementeros through for another three years.

The situation in La Noria will take some time to shake out, but for now Cruz Azul fans will hope the team can focus on the games. The players have closed ranks around Reynoso and they’ll try to ignore the crisis happening upstairs.

It should help that “La Máquina” faces Necaxa tonight as the Rayos feature a roster that was knee-capped by the sale of its best player (Alejandro Zendejas) just before the third game of the season.

Coach Pablo Guede was the fall guy, getting axed after a bad 3-1 home loss to Pachuca last weekend. In comes Jaime Lozano, the man who led El Tri to Olympic bronze last summer. Lozano might not be on the Estadio Azteca sideline, however, since he had not cleared Covid protocols as of Friday night.

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