“If you are afraid of failure you don’t deserve to be successful”.
- Charles Barkley.
Ladies and gentlemen the truth cannot be denied. The numbers tell the tale. The debacle began a little less than 3 years ago, a little before Grupo Orlegi took control of the Red and Black. The steep negative incline in the team’s results have cast a doubt on the crosstown rivalry’s importance. Was one of the greatest players in recent Chiva history true? “It is such an insignificant team, that if I score a goal, I will not celebrate it, I would be ashamed to do so", were part of the declarations of the former Chivas player.
I’m not one to kick a bloke when they’re down but, hey, let’s be honest. The once mighty Zorros have not been able to muster enough strength to fight back during over 450 minutes. 5 games. Insufferable defeats for their fans. Surprising, most of the Atlas juvenile divisions have shown great tenacity and strong game play. Something happens when they get to the top division.
I’m not one to kick a bloke when he’s down, the stats speak for themselves. The last time Atlas offered any resistance was back in 2017. As a matter of fact, during the last decade, Chivas has defeated Atlas 11 times, tied 8 and lost 6.
The most recent flood of defeats for the Rojinegros have evidenced that past sloppy planning have pushed Academico Top Brass to thank 3 DT’s for their work and most recently have deposited all their trust in Diego Cocca, who was obviously upset at the after game press conference. He knows what he has on his hands and he also knows that it’s going to take a major intervention in the next player market. If you were witness to last weekend’s game you can see that what we once knew as Atlas, is now just a shadow.
Last Saturdays 3-2 score card is misleading. Chivas visibly dominated, a back forward Atlas, more intent on not receiving an early goal than to try and vulnerate the seemingly unbeatable Rebaño's back four. The defensive line captained by veteran defender Hiram Mier, have only received 12 goals, placing them, along with Tigres and Pumas, in the top 3 defensive lines in the league. Atlas waiting for a counter and Guadalajara trying to weave between the lines and find the fox’s soft underbelly.
And they did. Three times with swift, incisive passing, and on the spot precise, dare I say, game defining, shooting. Three times Chivas struck. It was a poem. It was strange, to see our team play at a previously unimaginable pace, with ease. Only one way to describe it “jugaron alegre”. Heads up, eyes searching for the right pass. Looking for a red and white jersey on the move.
Too good to be true? You are right!!! Too good to be true!!! The dominance which lasted 85 minutes was brought to a shuddering halt. Two accident filled plays brought the Zorros close to tying ‘a lo Atlas’. I almost lit the veladoras. Almost. But just when I was going to grab a lighter and a candle, my eldest said “Te traigo otra chela, jefe?” Y se me quitaron las ganas!!!
I don’t see any punch in Atlas. A willing team without a compass. A daisy just has so many petals. And Chivas? The future is in the hands of Vucetich and his crew of youthful players. The Mister declared he was glad to play the best of the league in the last three games of the tournament for two reasons. One, because it was a good measuring stick to see how Los Rojiblancos would work under pressure, and two, if any wins came from these games, they would help the club climb up league standings and try to position themselves in the top four and clinch a playoff berth.
Chivas is moving slowly forward. To become unstoppable? Why not? The gauntlet was thrown down, the boys lifted it up and they are slowly gaining confidence in the DT’s handling of the team off and on the pitch. We can see it. They know but they still don’t see it. Once they do, there will be no stopping.
“Finishing strong is an everyday occurrence as there will never be a race, goal, day, quarter or year that does not come to an end. This means finishing strong is not an act…it’s a habit”.
- Gary Ryan Blair.
