ESPN specialists analyze the rivalry between the teams from Mexico and the United States, as well as how far they are from eliminating them in the quarterfinals
Blue Cross, America Y Striped have the mission of maintaining the dominance of the Mexican teams over their rivals in the MLS on the CONCACAF Champions League. Although the American tournament has shortened its distance from the Liga MX, Mexican clubs maintain superiority in their level, according to the analysis of ESPN specialists.
The quarterfinal round matches of the continental tournament will have a new episode in the regional rivalry, so we present you the analysis of the experts.
Roberto Gomez Junco
The analyst of ESPN consider that the MLS is increasingly close to Mexican football, despite the fact that the numbers speak of a clear superiority of the Liga MX.
“It is getting closer and closer, it is true that the numbers speak overwhelmingly in favor of the Mexican teams with the obtaining of titles, but several of them have been achieved in the last minutes by eliminating an American adversary or without being clearly superior in some duels .
“On the other hand, there is the impossibility of measuring them fully because the process in which they arrive is very different, when they arrive in the final part of the respective tournaments as the parameter would be more reliable. We already know that Mexicans arrive very close to their fullness. and those of the MLS just moving forward in the process of preparing to face your tournament, that factor if I think it is evident that it has come close, it is very close to the Liga MX, are already similar leagues, although the Liga MX to MLS. “, it indicated.
Regarding the return duels of the quarterfinals of Cruz Azul against Toronto, America against Portland and Monterrey against Columbus Crew, the analyst said that everything indicates that it will be the Mexican clubs that will reach the semifinals, although from his point of view not it would be a surprise if any of the MLS.
Alvaro Morales
Alvaro Morales believes that the distance between the two leagues is still long and that in the Concachampions teams from both countries do not arrive in the same circumstances because they play different phases of their tournaments, but that this will only change if the United States changes its calendar.
“They are still far away, they do not have good defense, they do not have good goalkeepers, occasionally by accident they can beat Mexican teams when they are not at a good level or are distracted, but Mexican teams are well above the MLS.
“It is an advantage (for the Liga MX) because the MLS they put their own restrictions, the Brasileirao also runs with the calendar year and they are not complaining about the participation in the continental tournaments, they do not put it as an excuse, they have their own rules and it is a disadvantage that they put themselves, the Brasileirao teams when they are not in it are in their regional tournaments, “he declared.
Regarding the panorama of the Mexican clubs in their commitments, he declared that “Cruz Azul should not have any problem to crush Toronto, America should have the responsibility of humiliating Portland and Monterrey would be the only one that would consider, due to the style of play, that you are at the greatest risk. “
Ricardo Puig
Ricardo Puig asserted that the distance between both leagues is still further away than previously thought and that despite the growth of the MLS, dominance remains for Mexican clubs.
“Further than we thought, even than we would have liked reality to tell, the MLS It has grown a lot, it continues to develop, it is on the way to becoming an interesting League with many elements, but in direct competitions Mexican clubs are still dominant, we have to see how this edition ends, but except for the surprise that Toronto gave Against León, the first leg of these rooms began to guide everything, so I would think that he is not as close as many of us thought.
On the vuela clashes of the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, Puig considered that for any of the three teams in the Liga MX it would be a failure to be eliminated.
“Cruz Azul is already quite on track, it would be a surprise if he does not go to the quarterfinals, he is going to take it quite seriously, I mean those who put Reynoso to play, because he will not have activity for the playoffs, at Cruz Blue I see him in the next round, also to America, with everything and that he had a bad time in the second half, he will end up getting, it will be the same, he will not look too much, I do not think he is much superior than Portland and also Rayados.
“The teams of the MLS They are going to fall a little short and the best example would be Rayados hitting the champion, of the three Monterrey was the one that rotated the most in the first leg I think that with a more starting team I see him advancing as well. They are one of the three most important teams and it would be a failure to be left out, but I don’t see it, I don’t think it will happen now, “he concluded.
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