León fans were able to breathe easier after Ángel Mena (right) signed a contract extension with the Esmeraldas over the summer. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
With the Apertura 2021 on hold for the September FIFA break – and 7 of 17 Liga MX matchdays already in the books – now’s a decent time to clean up some loose threads.
Primarily, I’ll riff a little bit on player movement, personnel decisions and other Liga MX miscelanny. Most of the 18 clubs have finished assembling their teams though a few are tweaking the back end of their rosters (like América, which has two open “foreign player” slots it could still fill, a dilemma that has them weighing several options).
Liga MX regs establish Sept. 22 as the date on which player registration comes to a close so there is still time for last-gasp transactions, should an injury issue arise, for instance.
With that in mind, here are some observations, starting with the evolution of the former Ascenso MX fútbol league.
From Liga de Expansión to Liga MX
One of the Mexican Soccer Federation’s main goals when it replaced the second division Ascenso MX with the new Liga de Expansión MX back in summer 2020 was to open a pathway from lower division teams onto Liga MX rosters. The idea was to establish the “new” league as a developmental league.
A year later, it appears that the pandemic-related fiscal considerations that tightened Liga MX clubs’ pocket books have contributed to the creation of just such a pipeline.
At least a dozen players who plied their trade in Liga de Expansión MX last season are now wearing Liga MX jerseys. Here are a few notables (with their former team in parentheses).
Necaxa signed Luis García (Atlante) and Brian García (Cimarrones). The former scored the game-winner against FC Juárez on Matchday 6 and then scored again on Matchday 7, while the latter has earned a starting spot at right fullback.
The Pumas promoted defender Arturo Ortiz (Pumas Tabasco) who debuted in Liga MX way back in 2013 but has been toiling in second division the past seven years. Coach Andrés Lillini has inserted the 29-year-old journeyman into the starting line-up and he has looked steady. The Pumas also picked up Octavio Paz (Tlaxcala).
Atlético de San Luis signed Jair Díaz (Venados), a 23-year-old defender from the Tigres system who spent three seasons in Mérida where he scored 4 goals in 36 games. The Tuneros also inked goalie Andrés Sánchez (Tepa), William Mejía (Morelia) and Vladimir Moragrega (Atlante). Sánchez has started three games between the pipes, but Mejía and Moragrega have yet to see the field in a regular-season match.
Querétaro is taking a chance on winger Pablo Gómez (Atlante) who has made four appearances thus far and back-up goalie Ricardo Díaz (Dorados), while Pachuca recruited Angel Estrada (Cimarrones). The Chivas scooped up Pavel Pérez (Tepa) and he made his first division debut against FC Juárez on Matchday 3.
So while there are no real break-out stars, and a couple of the above-mentioned players are not Mexican, this could be the start of something.
scored the game-winner against FC Juárez on Matchday 6</a> and then scored again on Matchday 7, while the latter has earned a starting spot at right fullback.</p>
<p>The Pumas promoted defender Arturo Ortiz (Pumas Tabasco) who debuted in Liga MX way back in 2013 but has been toiling in second division the past seven years. Coach Andrés Lillini has inserted the 29-year-old journeyman into the starting line-up and he has looked steady. The Pumas also picked up Octavio Paz (Tlaxcala).</p>
<p>Atlético de San Luis signed Jair Díaz (Venados), a 23-year-old defender from the Tigres system who spent three seasons in Mérida where he scored 4 goals in 36 games. The Tuneros also inked goalie Andrés Sánchez (Tepa), William Mejía (Morelia) and Vladimir Moragrega (Atlante). Sánchez has started three games between the pipes, but Mejía and Moragrega have yet to see the field in a regular-season match.</p>
<p>Querétaro is taking a chance on winger Pablo Gómez (Atlante) who has made four appearances thus far and back-up goalie Ricardo Díaz (Dorados), while Pachuca recruited Angel Estrada (Cimarrones). The Chivas scooped up Pavel Pérez (Tepa) and he made his first division debut against FC Juárez on Matchday 3.</p>
<p>So while there are no real break-out stars, and a couple of the above-mentioned players are not Mexican, this could be the start of something.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Transfer market winners </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-488310" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1315741623-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX FIFA break" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Orbelín Pineda (left) and Ignacio Rivero were key cogs for “La Máquina” last season, and both are back as Cruz Azul looks to repeat as Liga MX champions. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Holders Cruz Azul runs it back with same line-up</h3>
<p>After a dominating Guardianes 2021 campaign that featured a Liga MX record-tying 10 consecutive wins, the Cementeros front office was determined to keep its title-winning roster in place.</p>
<p>And that’s basically what they did as management worked almost the entire summer to keep the ol’ gang together, shedding just two subs – veteran winger Elías Hernández (sold to León) and unproven youngster Misael Domínguez (sold to Tijuana) – and bringing in two people.</p>
<p>The most difficult task was retaining jack-of-all-trades Ignacio Rivero who was on loan with <em>“La Máquina”</em> last season. Despite a bidding war provoked by the Tigres, Tijuana finally accepted Cruz Azul’s offer for the handyman.</p>
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<p>Rivero’s versatility provided coach Juan Reynoso with great freedom to mix-and-match line-ups and keep key players fresh heading into the Liga MX playoffs, as Rivero got 10 starts in the regular season, while starting 5 of 6 playoff games.</p>
<p>All-Stars Luis Romo and Orbelín Pineda remained in the Cementeros camp, too, even though European clubs have been sniffing around the pair (and Pineda appears poised to leave in December). Star striker Jonathan Rodríguez also made it clear that he is comfortable in La Noria, telling the front office to reject offers from abroad.</p>
<p>After lengthy consideration given to letting Pablo Aguilar walk, management agreed to a one-year deal and the Paraguayan hardman is once again anchoring the defense.</p>
<p>Finally, journeyman Luis “Quick” Mendoza was signed to fill Elías Hernández’s spot though foot surgery will keep him in drydock for two months. And 28-year-old Venezuelan playmaker <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-liga-mx-cruz-azul/cruz-azul-romulo-otero-es-nuevo-jugador-de-la-maquina">Rómulo Otero was acquired</a> as cover for the departure of Pineda, though he has failed to impress in either of his two appearances.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Pachuca newcomer Yairo Moreno takes the ball from former teammate Luis Montes during the Tuzos-Esmeraldas game on Matchday 1. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Tuzos and León get injection of new talent</h3>
<p>Jesús Martínez and family spent the summer wheeling-and-dealing to improve both Liga MX franchises in this organization, each of whom now has legitimate title aspirations.</p>
<p><a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-liga-mx-noticias-pachuca/pachuca-presento-a-sus-nuevos-refuerzos-para-la-proxima-temporada">Pachuca picked up</a> last season’s second-top scorer Nico Ibáñez from Atlético de San Luis, plucked veteran attacker Avilés Hurtado from Monterrey and traded for hybrid winger/fullback Yairo Moreno from León.</p>
<p>These three are expected to provide offense for the Tuzos who struggled to score last season (20 goals in 17 games), but it has been slow going so far (Pachuca has a modest 9 goals in 6 games).</p>
<p>Coach Paolo Pezzolano will have to do without midfielder/fullback Erick Aguirre (sold to Monterrey) but the emergence of Kevin Alvarez, 22, should offset that.</p>
<p>Sister club León also invested in new faces, but the most important move was getting Angel Mena to extend his stay. The Ecuadorian wizard was targeted by several Liga MX teams (including América), but signed a 2-year extension to remain with the Esmeraldas.</p>
<p>Since signing from Cruz Azul in 2019, Mena has won a scoring title (14 goals in his first season in León) and helped lead the team to the Apertura 2020 title. He hit the 50-goal mark (and added 25 assists) before he’d played 97 games with The Green Machine.</p>
<p>Mena’s new teammates include Puebla studs Santi Ormeño and Omar González in addition to Elías Hernández, while management also re-acquired defender Ramiro González (a member of the title-winning squad in 2020) as defensive back-up.</p>
<p>The appointment of coach Ariel Holan to replace the departed Ignacio Ambriz appears to have been spot on as <em>“La Fiera”</em> currently sits in second place in the Liga MX table.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Pumas forward Juan Ignacio Dinenno (#9) is shown a red card after his team’s match at Toluca last week. It was UNAM’s third red card of the game. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Pumas fail to improve, send team president packing</h3>
<p>UNAM has seen its finances take a severe hit thanks to the pandemic, but their personnel decisions have been unimpressive.</p>
<p>Despite the self-imposed austerity plan, the Pumas announced their intention to invest wisely while relying on an injection of talent from their once-renowned academy. The project was not well executed and team president Jesús Ramírez stepped down on Aug. 25.</p>
<p>The scheme took a hit in preseason when winger <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-liga-mx-pumas/pumas-carlos-gutierrez-baja-por-fractura-previo-al-inicio-del-apertura-2021">Carlos Gutiérrez was lost for the season with a broken leg.</a> The club then sold captain Juan Pablo Vigón to the Tigres, convinced that the windfall was too lucrative to pass up (even though they sold Vigón for less money than they spent to acquire him from Atlas two years ago).</p>
<p>In mid-August, the Pumas sold defender Johan Vásquez to Serie A side Genoa, a transaction that was beneficial for UNAM since earlier in the summer the club had bought out Vásquez’s contract who had been on loan from Monterrey.</p>
<p>But the influx of cash was not initially used to purchase replacements, and coach Andrés Lillini was asked to fill the two vacancies from within. As mentioned above, Arturo Ortiz was promoted from the team’s Liga de Expansión MX franchise, Pumas Tabasco and he has proved adequate.</p>
<p>As it became apparent that there were slim pickings in the academy teams, three undistinguished South Americans were brought in – Brazilians Higor Meritao and Rogerio Oliveira, and Ecuadorian Washington Corozo.</p>
<p>Soon thereafter, Cristian Battochio was announced as the replacement for Vigón, but the Argentine (who plays with an Italian passport) has yet to impress.</p>
<p>The more worrisome issue, however, has to do with internal dissension and disciplinary problems.</p>
<p>The biggest concern has to be the decline of fullback Alan Mozo who not so long ago seemed destined for a long national team career only to fall out of the picture thanks to poor conduct. Mozo has repeatedly violated Pumas team rules and he lost his starting job a year ago after reporting to the team out of shape. The 24-year-old also has an unnerving habit of picking up reckless red cards like he did against Toluca last weekend.</p>
<p>Striker Juan Ignacio Dinenno is also acting out now. After two solid seasons alongside Carlos González, his production took a dive after González was sold to the Tigres before last season. Reports indicate he is upset he was not sold to a European team (no takers, to be honest) and has been acting out at training camp, screaming at academy players and insulting team personnel. His poor attitude carried over to the Toluca game last week and he earned a red card AFTER the final whistle as his post-game yapping at the ref finally went too far.</p>
<p>The Pumas recently escaped the Liga MX cellar but have just one win and a –6 goal differential. Their best option appears to be to lean heavily on academy players in an effort to discover which ones could contribute to the upcoming rebuild.</p>
<h3>Guadalajara’s best efforts stifled by lack of funds</h3>
<p>After taking a step backward last season (eliminated in the wild card round a season after reaching the semifinals), Chivas management was eager to make a splash in the Liga MX transfer market. There was just one problem … they had no cash.</p>
<div id="attachment_488307" class="wp-caption alignright">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-488307" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_186,w_300/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1295405746-420x260.jpeg" alt="Liga MX at FIFA break" width="300" height="186"><p class="wp-caption-text">Chivas captain Jesús Molina laments a missed opportunity during a Liga MX match last month. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Guadalajara GM Ricardo Peláez quickly started talks with Pachuca in an effort to pry the versatile Erick Aguirre from the Tuzos, who refused to lower their asking price.</p>
<p>At the same time, the Chivas also re-opened talks over Pachuca midfielder Víctor Guzmán whose January 2020 acquisition (one of Peláez’s first moves upon taking the GM job) was scuttled when he failed a drug test. “El Pocho” served a 7-month suspension and returned to action with Pachuca last year but a knee injury has prevented him from returning to form.</p>
<p>Pachuca listened to the offers for both of its prized youngsters, but insisted any transaction must be in cash, rejecting the assets and players being proposed by Guadalajara.</p>
<p>Despite the ambitious plans and yeoman effort, Guadalajara was unable to enhance its roster, bringing in just a single new face – Pável Pérez, from the club’s own second-division side Tapatío. There was also a bit of addition by subtraction in July as disgruntled striker J.J. Macías was loaned out to Spain’s Getafe.</p>
<p>Heading into the summer, the front office had placed 13 players on the trading block, but ended up keeping four of them on their Liga MX roster, sending four down to Liga de Expansión MX teams and loaning out the rest.</p>
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<p>A slow start to the Apertura 2021 has the club in turmoil again, and last week coach Víctor Manuel <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/06/liga-mx-fifa-break/"https://playingfor90.com/2021/09/04/latest-liga-mx-soap-opera-chivas-turn/">Vucetich provoked the ire of the front office</a> and all Chivas fans by implying that he could not possibly win with the roster as currently assembled.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">