Although Guadalajara defeated Mazatlán 1-0, Veljko Paunovic was very clear in the post-match press conference statements, he considers that Chivas did not show their best footballing version, but that does not mean that there are no highlights both collectively and individually.
Throughout the preparation matches, including Friday night's, the red and white team has shown great concentration and effectiveness at the defensive level, it is very difficult to generate chances near the goal.
What was Guadalajara's best performance against Mazatlan?
Let's start with the collective. The team coached by Veljko Paunovic showed an undeniable improvement in pressing, both in the opponent's and their own half. The Red and Whites started by blocking passing lanes to slow down the opponent's play and then try to steal the ball, something that is extremely complicated to do, but that the team is getting better and better at it.
Another point to highlight is what Chiverío does with the ball, as there are increasingly more marked attacking mechanisms in the last third of the field. From the aggressive role played by the inside players in charging the area and constantly breaking free (Beltrán and Pérez), to the valuable work of the wide midfielders (Mozo and Cisneros).
Before moving on to the individual, we cannot ignore the physical shape of the entire squad, since such a demanding gaming model with and without the ball, demands that they be in the best physical condition.
Individual highlights:
- Luis Fernando Puente: Not only did he score a goal, he was also very important without the ball, as he constantly looked for openings behind the back of the defensive line and his power allowed him to win those duels. In addition, the attacker from the Red and Whites' youth academy generated chances with his unmarked runs to the near post, such is the case of Zahid Muñoz's shot that almost ended in a goal.
- Fernando Beltrán: The 'Nene' is still in an extraordinary footballing moment, as in addition to commanding the Rebaño's possessions, he has understood perfectly what Veljko Paunovic needs from him. The Rebaño's 20th player also put in several very dangerous filtered passes.
- Gilberto Orozco: Chiquete is more than a reality, as the left-footed center back maintains an impeccable level to defend long spaces when Chivas attacks with many players. In addition, the Culiacán native has worked hard on his diagonal runs, which help the team advance faster.
