ranger_syntax 4,422 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Quote The scenes on the final whistle as Cruz Azul defeated Monterrey 2-0 to win the Copa MX on Wednesday said just as much about where La Maquina is at right now as the preceding 90-plus minutes of football. La Maquina had won its first title since the 2014 CONCACAF Champions League and the celebrations added to the sense that Cruz Azul -- an institution that has spawned a verb to describe ways of letting winning positions slip: cruzazulear -- is ready to challenge for the Liga MX Apertura in the remaining weeks of 2018 ... That depth and competition for place were on full display in the Copa MX final, when Caixinha brought off striker Caraglio, who is known for his hold-up play, for Martin Cauteruccio, who is more mobile and adept at getting in behind defenses. Caixinha's role has also been important. The Portuguese manager may have struggled at Rangers in Scotland, but his preparation and coaching methodology is far more advanced than that of the majority of Liga MX managers. From a mental point of view, Caixinha has confronted the club's culture of failure head on and certainly doesn't lack boldness. On the day of the cup final against Monterrey, Caixinha relocated the players usual loosening up session from one of the conference rooms in the team hotel to a green space outside separating two lanes of traffic, where the team proceeded to go through their stretching exercises. It's all part of "changing the chip." And then at half-time, with Cruz Azul winning 1-0, Caixinha was livid with his players in the locker room, according to captain Aguilar, and switched his strikers. It's the kind of decision that can backfire, but everything is looking rosy for Cruz Azul right now, even if winning the cup obviously does not mean the league will naturally follow. What the Copa MX does give La Maquina is a boost of confidence and vindication that things are going according to plan. Only time will tell if it is all too good to be true. http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/mexico/203/blog/post/3686685/copa-mx-title-win-just-the-first-step-toward-changing-the-culture-at-cruz-azul 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,812 Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 I wondered why the Scottish media had stopped giving us updates... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,803 Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Had a post over in the Annual Results thread on that too, with links to the Cup competition. Essentially the Mexican FA Cup, but they play it twice per season and the winners of each tournament play against one another for the Mexican Super Cup. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,257 Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 IIRC that's his second trophy in Mexico. Not a dud or a fraud as some have called him out for but was never going to be a good fit for us or the Scottish football environment. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pensively Staring 46 Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 Everyone has their niche, the Mexican game is his. Thanks for Morelos ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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