Video Credit: CONCACAF
By: Jonny Rico
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Club America had to fight back and overcome a difficult series to win its record tying sixth CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) title. Here are five conclusions left after the match:
1- Club America is the best team in Mexico and CONCACAF
The problem is that sometimes the players and coaches know this fact all too well and underestimate its opponents. But when it is time to show up Club America shows up and it is usually in spectacular form. In 2013 Club America lost the first leg of the Liga MX final, then conceded early in the second leg and had a red card shown. With two minutes left in regulation America scored not one but two goals – including a goalkeeper diving header – to send the game into overtime and eventually win it in PKs. Again in 2014 America lost the first leg final before coming back home to the Azteca to win it 3-0. And now again in in the CCL, it almost loses the first leg, goes down a goal early and fights back in spectacular fashion to win it all.Don’t forget the semi final this year either.
2- MLS is not ready to win a CCL
Major League Soccer is – and has been for a while – obsessed with winning the CCL and participating in the FIFA Club World Cup. But the reality is that MLS is not at the level where it can realistically dream of winning a CCL. MLS had in its representation one of its worst teams up against Liga MX’s best. Montreal Impact only won its place in the CCL beating out a handful of other professional teams and an amateur team in Canada. All other legitimate MLS representatives were booted out of the tournament. Two seasons ago when MLS had three teams paired up against three Liga MX clubs in the quarterfinals; all Mexican teams advanced to the semifinals. The reality of today’s world in CONCACAF is that Costa Rican clubs are closer to winning a CCL trophy than MLS.
3- Sambueza is quickly becoming a Club America legend
The term ‘legend’ is not something Club America or its fans uses lightly. About to celebrate its 99th birthday in October, Club America has had its fair share of legends come through the club as players and managers and sometimes both. Chilean international Carlos Reinoso, the ‘Zague’ and ‘Zaguiño’ father/son combo, Cristobal Ortega, and many more. The last America player to receive a legend label is the recently retired Cuauhtemoc Blanco who spent almost 15 years of his over 20 year career at America.
While still not close to the aforementioned names, Rubens Sambueza is quickly rising and could be the next player to be labeled a legend. Since his arrival in 2013 after being relegated with Tecos, Sambueza has gone on to win two league titles, one runners up finish in the league and now this CCL championship. And there is probably more to come giving the way the team has handle itself.
4- Quintero not worth the transfer fee
Not everything is shining rainbows at Club America. One of the major disappointments thus far has been Colombian international Carlos Darwin Quintero who arrived at the club in the December transfer window for a Liga MX record transfer fee of about $12 millions USD.
The Colombian winger/forward shone for many years at Club Santos winning a league title and a CCL. Him and Oribe Peralta know each other very well and were expected to make the same lethal partnership at America. But since arriving Quintero has failed to show that magic. He is not the first nor will he be the last player to shine at small clubs and buckle under the tremendous pressure that a team like America brings.
5- Despite the win, Gustavo Matosas should be sacked from Club America
It is hard to argue this when his team is lifting a continental title. But the reality is that Gustavo Matosas is not the ideal manager for Club America. America had its ideal manager in Antonio Mohamed which led it to a top of the league finish in the regular season and then navigated a difficult playoffs through controversy after controversy all the way to the record setting 12th league title. Matosas won back-to-back titles with Leon recently but it did so by qualifying under the radar to the playoffs. Eighth place – out of eight – in the second title win; it won its last three regular season matches and relied several result combinations throughout those last three weeks.
Matosas’ style brings an attack happy formation that leaves the team vulnerable to humiliating losses like the 4-0s against Veracruz and Queretaro or the 3-0 against Herediano. With Mohamed the team had more stability in its formation which allowed it to dominate the table from start to finish.
Mohamed also led Club America through the group stage of this season’s CCL while Matosas and his Leon side were eliminated from the groups stage. Matosas also had a humiliating showing at the Copa Libertadores being knocked out by Bolivia’s Club Bolivar. In four games faced against Bolivar during that Libertadores, Matosas was not able to get a win.
A high profile team like Club America deserves a much better manager than Gustavo Matosas.
