Cruz Azul shows improvement hand in hand with the return of ‘Cabecita’ Rodríguez; while Chivas records its worst start in two years
After four days, Cruz Azul and Chivas’ performance tracks are opposite according to their Guard1anes 2021 overall standings. The Machine with a clear upward trend, with the second consecutive win after a 4-1 win over Querétaro; while Guadalajara drops to the bottom of the general table, collecting four games with no win and only two points.
Both teams failed to win in their first two games of the tournament, the Cruzazulinos added two defeats and a complex environment with a new coach (Juan Reynoso), COVID-19 infections, and the case of their goalscorer, Jonathan Rodríguez’s indiscipline; While the Flock opted for the continuity of Vucetich, who took them to the semifinals in the previous tournament, they could not count on José Juan Macías in the first matches, because he tested positive for Coronavirus.
Cruz Azul and Chivas agree that they made few player moves for the tournament. A difficult economic environment spawned from the COVID-19 pandemic added to the fact that the Celestial Institute is still undergoing a complicated transition in the governance of the cooperative, two days after the records close confirms its first strengthening.
Alexis Peña, from Chivas, was the only official addition to the team; although the club also recovered players on loan to other teams, such as Guillermo ‘Pol’ Fernández, Walter Montoya and Bryan Angulo, who are still not on the team.
Chivas also registered no formal moves, except for the return of Alejandro Mayorga and César Huerta, players on loan to Pumas and Mazatlán respectively who showed good performances away from Guadalajara.
Juan Reynoso’s team showed improvement since the day before, taking its first win against Pachuca and confirming its rising stage with a win against Gallos Blancos. It was also confirmed that ‘Cabecita’ Rodríguez was punishing him, as he scored a goal and an assist on his return.
Meanwhile, Chivas remains in two units, with his second setback and where José Juan Macías’s return was not enough to avoid defeat to FC Juárez and confirm his worst start of the tournament since the 2008 Apertura.