MEXICO CITY — To achieve the goal of being the first three-time champion in short tournaments, it was inevitable that América was going to cross paths with Cruz Azul at some point in the league.
It will not be in the final like the previous tournament. The duel took place in the semifinals, a series that will start on Thursday with the visit of the Machine to the Eagles. In the other key, Atlético de San Luis faces Monterrey, a tie that will begin on Wednesday.
After becoming the fourth team to win a two-time championship in Mexico since 1996, when two tournaments began to be played per year, América suffered from injuries to multiple key players. He ended up sneaking into the league through the play-offs.
By advancing seventh, the azulcremas knew that they would have to go against the current if they wanted to be the first team to lift three consecutive cups and their mission began with a convincing quarter-final tie, defeating Toluca, the second seed, 4-0.
“We had a somewhat irregular tournament. I said it was not normal for us, but we have to know how to handle these details and we are happy to be in the semifinals,” said Álvaro Fidalgo, América’s Spanish midfielder. “We are hungry to win titles. For us it was not only the two-time championship and three other titles that we won. We want much more.”
In addition to the two league championships, América managed to be crowned the Champion of Champions, the Super Cup and the Champions Cup, all in 2024.
Despite these achievements, the team’s irregularity in the regular calendar caused more than one to question América’s ability to win the third consecutive championship.
“Analysts have the right to think what they want, but it surprises me that they forget what America is capable of and we already showed it in the league and cups,” said Brazilian coach André Jardine. “Maybe it’s a good opportunity to remind them what we are capable of doing.”
The good news for América is that, for the first time in the tournament, Jardine will be able to count on his full squad. The exception is Chilean defender Igor Lichnovsky, who tore his ligaments before the start of the Apertura.
América had the Chileans Diego Valdés and Víctor Dávila in their pockets, but Jardine indicated that they are available. The Águilas will have no excuses when they face Cruz Azul, the great favorite to win the crown.
The Machine totaled 42 points to set a record in short tournaments of 17 dates. They fell one short of the general mark that belongs to América, which did so when 19 games were played per tournament.
“To reach the last day you have to beat everyone. When only the best four remain, you face the best and a semifinal is not easy no matter who it is,” said Argentine coach Martín Anselmi after eliminating Tijuana by position in the table in a series that ended tied 3-3.
Cruz Azul is seeking the tenth crown in its history and the first since Clausura 2021. The last tournament was denied to them when they lost to América, which has exerted dominance over the celestials in confrontations in the final phase.
Since short tournaments have been played since 1996, the two teams have faced each other eight times in the league and the Águilas have won seven of those matches. His only setback was in the Winter ’99 tournament.
2024-12-03 20:11:00