10 Bold Predictions for Liga MX in 2015
The 2015 Clausura tournament is set to start on January 9, when Morelia hosts Toluca at Estadio Morelos. The upcoming season will bring renovated commitments for the 18 clubs of the Liga MX.
America will try to become the third back-to-back champion since the short tournaments were instituted, in 1996. Only UNAM and Leon have accomplished the feat.
Others, the likes of Guadalajara, Veracruz, Puebla and Universidad de Guadalajara will have to give everything to avoid relegation.
The moves of the transfer window will play a key role during the season. For instance, Cruz Azul couldn't keep Marco Fabian in their roster, and they let off Mariano Pavone.
There were also some managerial changes. Some of them include Gustavo Matosas, who left Leon for America, Jose Cruz's arrival in Puebla, while Alfredo Tena will be in charge of Morelia.
Let's take a look at 10 bold predictions for the upcoming tournament.
Gustavo Matosas Will Leave America Before the Season Ends
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Gustavo Matosas proved his worth with Leon.
He took over La Fiera in 2012 and quickly made an impact on the team. He secured the Liga de Ascenso Clausura title that year, which allowed him to fight for a spot in the first division.
He eventually won it and took Panzas Verdes on a fantastic roll, which included two Liga MX championships.
The club went through such good moment that when Mexico national team needed to face New Zealand in a two-legged playoff, then interim coach Miguel Herrera called four Leon footballers, including the team's starting midfielders.
But things will be very different for Matosas next year.
Former America coach Antonio Mohamed set the bar very high, as he secured the 12th title for Las Aguilas, while the former Panzas Verdes coach had a 7-1-9 record, the club's worse since the 2002 Verano tournament, when they were relegated.
Guadalajara Will Be Relegated
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Guadalajara have played in the first division since the Liga Mayor was founded in 1943.
They are the only Mexican team with a strict "national players only" policy. They hold 11 championships and a very loyal fanbase, the biggest in the country according to FIFA.com.
Despite it all, Chivas are struggling to avoid relegation, and the 2014 Apertura didn't help them much, as they only secured three victories. They have had lousy seasons ever since their last appearance in the Liguilla, back in 2012.
They have only won 13 games of a total of 68—that means 13 victories in four seasons.
It doesn't seem like Jose Manuel de la Torre can turn things around. He will bring some young promises to keep the boat afloat, such as Isaac Brizuela, Erick Torres and Marco Fabian.
Leones Negros Will Make the Liguilla
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Universidad de Guadalajara struggled in their first Liga MX tournament, as they only captured three victories, two on home soil.
The team needs to commit in the upcoming season because they are fighting to stay away from the relegation zone.
Luckily for them, since they don't have at least six seasons in the first division, their ratio can increase easier than Guadalajara's, for instance.
Leones Negros need to make quite an impression in the 2015 Clausura and prove they belong.
Making the Liguilla in their condition of newest team of the tournament is not impossible.
Take a look at Tijuana and Leon, they both managed to secure a place among the best eight clubs of the 2012 Clausura and the 2012 Apertura, respectively.
Cruz Azul Will Finally Win the Liga MX
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Cruz Azul come off from an embarrassing defeat to New Zealand semi-professional club Auckland City in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Luis Fernando Tena's boys lost the third place of the tournament in penalty kicks.
This tough blow will put a lot of pressure on the club, as they have yet to win a Liga MX title since the 1997 Verano tournament.
The 2015 Clausura is the perfect opportunity to redeem themselves and show why they are one of the biggest clubs in the country, with eight local league titles.
By the way, La Maquina won't have Marco Fabian, Pablo Barrera, Mariano Pavone and Amaranto Perea to help them in their quest.
The Tournament's Top Scorer Will Be Mexican
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It's been three-and-a-half years since a Mexican claimed the lead of the scorers table.
Angel Reyna accomplished the feat in the 2011 Clausura tournament. Then playing for America, Reyna put the ball away 13 times in the regular season.
He scored in Matchdays 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17. His record included one hat-trick and two braces.
Ever since then, Oribe Peralta has been the closest Mexican to secure the title. In the 2011 Apertura, he netted 10 times, just one goal shy from Ivan Alonso, who was playing for Toluca.
Other footballers with a possibility to contend, due to their recent form, are Eduardo Herrera, who put the ball away eight times in the 2014 Apertura, and Javier Orozco with a total tally of six in the past season.
Ronaldinho Will Extend His Contract with Queretaro
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Ronaldinho arrived in Queretaro last September for the 2014 Apertura. According to the BBC, the Brazilian signed a two-year contract.
He appeared nine times and scored three goals. He also created 16 goal opportunities, including two assists.
But life is not a bed of roses. Goal's Tom Marshall reports that the club's sporting director has sent an ultimatum to Dinho, since he has missed a lot of Gallos Blancos' preseason.
The team needs him more than ever, since Camilo Sanvezzo, who scored 12 goals last season, won't be available for the 2015 Clausura because he tore his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament, as per MLS.com.
Dario Benedetto Won't Make an Impact with America
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Dario Benedetto netted nine times in the 2014 Clausura, his best season since he arrived in Mexico.
The Argentine had been wearing Tijuana's jersey since the 2013 Apertura. He appeared 43 times, played 3,104 minutes and put the goal away 21 times for Xolos.
Now, he will represent Las Aguilas, along with his former teammate Cristian Pellerano.
Benedetto's form in the 2014 Apertura settled him as one of the most successful forwards of the league. He is a flexible footballer who can create plays or finish them easily.
In the 2014 Apertura he scored six times with the right foot, two with the head and one with the left foot. He also created 17 goal opportunities, 94 percent of them from the last third of the pitch.
The question is: Can he adjust to playing with Oribe Peralta?
Alfredo Tena Will Lead Morelia to the Top 8
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Morelia have been struggling to make an impact in the Liga MX, ever since they finished second in the 2011 Clausura tournament.
The last time they qualified for the Liguilla was in the 2013 Apertura, but Leon sent them back home in the quarter-finals.
The club decided to sack Carlos Bustos after Week 4 of the 2014 Clausura. They brought Eduardo de la Torre, who left after two matchdays.
Along came Angel David Comizzo. The former goalkeeper left the job after 14 games in charge of the team, which included a dreadful record of 0-2-5 in the 2014 Apertura.
Eventually, the team finished last in general table, with 10 points, and a new manager, Jose Cruz, who will coach Puebla in the 2015 Clausura.
Toluca Will Sack Jose Saturnino Cardozo
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Jose Saturnino Cardozo is a legend in Toluca. He appeared 332 times and scored 249 goals between 1995 and 2005.
After his retirement he managed several teams before arriving in Diablos Rojos, in 2013.
After three seasons, he has led the club to the semi-finals in every tournament he has been on the bench, but he has failed to qualify for the final showdown.
Cardozo is one of the managers with best results in the Liga MX, but Toluca are used to winning championships, no wonder why they hoisted seven champion's trophies between 1998 and 2010.
The 2015 Clausura could be his last chance to prove himself in this role.
Puebla Will Reach the Liguilla for the 1st Time Since 2009
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Puebla haven't appeared in the Liguilla since the 2009 Apertura, when they won six games, tied eight and lost three in the regular season, under Jose Luis Sanchez's command.
Things have not been easy for La Franja, and the lack of continuity has hurt them deeply.
They have had 10 managers (including the return of Sanchez and an interim coach) in a five-year span. They also sit 16th in the relegation table.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco will be instrumental in leading his team to the playoffs. Last season he made 13 appearances (only two starts) and put the ball away three times.
Despite playing very little, he created 23 goal opportunities and completed 70 percent of the passes he sent.
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