America were humbled 4-0 by Queretaro in their last match
Photo: Club America

Club America have a lot to win but far more to lose in CCL final

by Jonny Rico

What is really at stake for Club America in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League final against Montreal Impact? The truth is that the Mexico City club has a whole lot more to lose than to win. That might seem like an odd and even pretentious statement seeing as a CCL winners get a ticket into the FIFA Club World Cup. The level of the opposition has a lot to do with the above statement. With no disrespect to Montreal Impact or its fans; they are not among MLS’ elite club in the past and have only two points in its four MLS matches.

Another factor into the ‘a whole lot more to lose than to win’ situation is the overall bad performances by the other three Mexican club in this year’s CCL. Both Cruz Azul and Leon were dropped in the group stage, while Pachuca were eliminated by this Impact side.

Since the evolution of the CONCACAF Champions Cup to the current CCL there has only been Mexican winners and the streak is now in Club America’s hands. Mexican fans will be supporting the probably the least Mexican club in Liga MX. In the decisive match against Herediano, Club America fielded only three Mexican born players.

The CCL has been an obsession for MLS and its clubs for a long time now; so not only is Club America looking to continue the Mexican dominance but it will be looking to prevent MLS from winning its first CCL title and chalking off another of the psychological coconuts that keeps North America convinced Liga MX still trumps MLS.

Having just recently been crowned Mexico’s most successful club by winning its 12th league title, Club America is seen as the overwhelming favorite. A CCL title for Club America would mean the opportunity of avoiding both national and international embarrassment.

On a more internal level, a CCL title would bring some much needed relief and calm to manager Gustavo Matosas and his era at the Club – which runs the risk of being cut short.

Matosas was controversially hired by Club America during last season’s playoff run.

Gustavo Matosas may be about to make the wrong sort of history for Liga MX

Former manager Antonio ‘Turco’ Mohamed had led the club to a top of the table finish and navigated the team through weeks of controversy during the playoffs all the way to the championship.

Matosas was brought in under the pretense of bringing a more spectacular brand of football.

But it has not taken in just yet. Club America has suffered 3-0, 4-0, and 4-0 losses to Herediano, Veracruz and Queretaro in its last six games, as well as an unimpressive 1-1 draw against former manager Mohamed’s Monterrey.

The manager’s job could be on the line in this next week. In between the two CCL finals Club America will have the Superclasico against Chivas of Guadalajara. A continental title could give Matosas some breathing room.

He might find responsibility for handing MLS its first CCL win has quite the opposite effect.