Photo Credit: Chivas Guadalajara
By: Jason Marquitz
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The intensity meter is always maxed out in Guadalajara. The pressure for the manager to retain his job from week to week coupled with the media scrutiny doesn’t allow for lulls. With that being said, this is again another crucial season for Chivas.
The threat of relegation once again looms for the prestigious club. With only a few teams (Puebla, Morelia, and Dorados) close in the relegation table, Chivas will have its work cut out for this seventeen game stretch. Reason would suggest that Guadalajara have the quality to remain safe from this ultimate danger. The team is certainly strong enough to avoid the bottom of the table and should be pushing for a playoff spot. However, the recent run of form from Puebla and Morelia suggest that nothing is a given. The play of Dorados shoud provide the ‘rojiblancos’ with some sense of comfort. The last to be promoted look by far the most likely to be sent back down. Still, with the lack of games amassed for the team the relegation percentage can sky-rocket with a good run of form. Chivas will need a strong season to remain safely in Liga MX.
Luckily, its play last season suggests that a solid performance from the team is within reach. Since the arrival of Matias Almeyda as manager the play at Chivas has been strong. He has seemingly brought a newfound intensity to the play of the club.
The results tailed off a bit down the stretch last season, but the additions to the roster should provide further faith in not only survival but perhaps something greater. The marquee signing for Chivas is clearly Carlos ‘Gullit’ Peña. The former-Leon midfielder with experience in the national team is a great acquisition for Guadalajara. Recent form has been a little shaky for Peña, but his talent is clearly evident. Getting Peña at 25, in what should be his prime, is a great sign for the club and is an about face to recent “over-the-hill” acquisitions. Continuing this new trend was the addition of Orbelin Pineda from Queretaro. A veteran of the Mexcio’s Under-20 squad, Pineda still has plenty of potential at just 19. His play for the ‘Gallos Blancos’ suggests Pineda is well on his way to fulfilling this potential. He should be another welcome addition in the Chivas midfield.
The losses of Carlos Fierro to Queretaro and Marco Fabian to Germany will be felt, especially considering the lack of quality goal scorers on the roster. However, Chivas appear to have enough overall strength to compensate for the lack of depth up front. Another stellar season from Omar Bravo wouldn’t hurt either.
MLS
