The bond between the Rojiblancos and Matías Almeyda seemed close despite their paths parting in 2018. The five titles won by the Guadalajara club during the Argentine coach’s tenure is the closest they have come to their era of greatest glory, the late 1950s and 1960s of the last century.

Even for Almeyda it was clear that the pairing he made with Chivas is not something he can find at every club he manages. With San Jose Earthquakes in MLS, he simply did not come remotely close to the winning ways he did in Liga MX. In four years with the Quakes, Matias only qualified his team to the MLS Cup Playoffs once and leaves with a negative record of 31 wins, 42 losses and 25 draws.

The possible unsurpassable gap between Chivas and Matias Almeyda

Guadalajara’sfans are unhappy with their team and its management, and saw the return of Almeyda as the ideal remedy to cure their ills. However, despite the apparent possibility of the Argentine coach’s return, there could be bad memories of him within the club.

According to Récord’s insider El Francotirador, the Chivas board is not even remotely contemplating the idea of Matías Almeyda returning as the team’s coach due to some unethical, and even harmful, practices allegedly carried out by the Argentinean during his three years at the helm of the Rebaño Sagrado.

Almeyda’s alleged unethical behavior at Chivas

The first harmful behavior of Almeyda, pointed out by the aforementioned insider, is his tendency to request that key positions in the club’s structure be filled by his friends and acquaintances. This would be due to Matías’ intention to be a general manager and not just a coach, so the only one he is accountable to is the owner. There would be no sports director, a position currently held by ex-footballer Ricardo Pelaez.

An example of this, leaked by Record, is the case of the soccer player Carlos Cisneros, who suffered an injury in 2016 and was suggested by Chivas‘ trusted medical expert to undergo surgery. However, Almeyda’s assistant in the club’s sports medicine area recommended not to do it and to approach it with conservative alternative therapies, which was about to cause the player’s retirement and extended his absence for up to 4 years.

Another of the former San Jose Earthquakes coach’s mismanagement is the excessive and constant demand for tickets, which amounted to more than 100 for each Chivas game that were requested by Almeyda to distribute among family and friends. However, and according to what Record published, most of those tickets were given to the famous Barras Bravas, to keep them on his side, prevent them from criticizing him and put pressure on the board of directors for any requests he might have.

The Rebaño Sagrado was left without a coach after the dismissal of Marcelo Michel Leaño. The 35-year-old was unable to return Guadalajara to winning ways and, according to Oscar Guevara, TUDN’s expert analyst, ended his tenure as one of the coaches with the worst success rate in the team’s history: 39.13%.

The standings for the Clausura 2022 Liga MX Tournament have Chivas in 15th place, outside the places that would allow them to qualify for the Playoffs. With 4 games left, they could still advance to the knockout stage, but the outlook looks complicated for a team that has lost confidence. The remaining games will be coached by interim coach Ricardo Cadena, who was a Chivas player in the 90s.

Chivas fans show their dissatisfaction with vandalism acts

Chivas is in Mexico City to face Cruz Azul at the Azteca Stadium. As is customary, a horde of their fans gathered at their hotel to be close to their idols. However, what began as a show of affection and support for the team ended in an unfortunate episode of vandalism.

As if there had not been enough violence in recent times in Mexican soccer, Guadalajara fans forced their way into the hotel where the team was staying after some of the players went out to socialize with them. This resulted in destruction and damage to the main door of the building. Although some fans managed to enter the main lobby area, there were no further damages or aggressions.

Matias Almeyda to the rescue? Hiscurrent situation with MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes

In October 2018, the Argentinean coach arrived in MLS to coach the Quakes. Accompanied by a winning reputation, the same one forged thanks to the 5 titles he won with Chivas, Almeyda awakened illusion in San Jose fans, however, he has not been able to emulate in the United States the success he had in Mexico.

According to journalist J. Moore, Matias Almeyda is reportedly looking for the MLS exit door. The only thing that would separate him from achieving his goal is the agreement he is looking to reach: he wants to be paid the remainder of his contract for the current season. These rumors fuel the possibility of seeing Almeyda back on the Chivas bench.

Mexico’s two most popular teams took advantage of the FIFA international window to bring the historic exhibition to loyal followers in the United States; one that would turn into the continuation of what seems to be a never-ending nightmare for Guadalajara, and a sweet dream for las ‘Águilas’.

Federico Viñas stunned Chivas before a single full minute of game time had been played with a strike that went between alternate starting goalkeeper Raul Gudiño’s legs, and after a fruitless 90 minutes, Emilio Lara put the final nail in the ‘Rojiblanco’ coffin via a stoppage time left-footed shot. The final 2-0 result favoring the ‘Azulcremas’ is a mirror of both teams’ Liga MX performances: América is unbeaten and in first place, while its bitter rival sits eleventh with only two wins in seven matches.

The disappointing performance from a tame Guadalajara side, albeit in a friendly, echoes louder after manager Víctor Manuel Vucetich voiced distress last week for having to use only Mexican players on his team, as tradition has always dictated in one of Mexico’s winningest clubs.

“It has been a disadvantage (playing with only Mexicans) because it is evident that you can’t use the players you would want. That’s on one side, on the other, teams don’t sell the players you do want. That’s another problem. Another topic is the level Chivas requires; very high. And there are only four or five players that could fit into Chivas”, Vucetich told TUDN last Wednesday. The statements made by the former Monterrey manager were understandably not received with open arms by Chivas’ high management, according to El Universal.

The words used by one of Liga MX’s most successful coaches ever, with a whopping five national championships and three Concacaf titles to his name, immediately drew parallels to those of former manager Matías Almeyda, who in the past has continuously expressed his belief and support for players born in Mexico.“I am a foreigner and believe in Mexicans more than many Mexicans do”, ‘El Pelado’ triumphantly told national press after pummeling América 3-0 in the Estadio Azteca in the Apertura 2016.

“I believe in Mexicans, never mind that I’m obligated to use Mexican players. I truly believe in all of you and the day you believe in yourselves, you will overcome the world. You will overcome anyone”, Almeyda also expressed to his squad before the Clausura 2017 final against Tigres, one that Chivas would win to secure its 12th-ever league title.

The days of celebrating at the ‘Minerva’ roundabout in Jalisco’s capital, what seemed to be a regular custom under Almeyda, seem far away for Guadalajara followers, but Vucetich refuses to paint a bleak picture of his club’s present and future. Before the América friendly in Dallas, ‘Rey Midas’ defended his side’s performances in Liga MX, in spite of only winning against 10th-placed Necaxa and 14th-placed Puebla. “The team plays pretty well, we have played well and are being criticized. For example, the best team (in Mexico) right now is America and they are also criticized”, Vucetich explained last week.

Mention the current manager’s name to any Chivas fan and you probably won’t be greeted with a smile. Mention ‘El Pelado’ and the reception will probably be the exact opposite. Nostalgia aside, and with ‘Vuce’’s recent statements in mind, is there really that much of a difference between both managers’ tenures? Is outrage caused by the poor ‘Rojiblanco’ form too much or is it justified?

Remembering Almeyda

Almeyda arrived at Chivas in September 2015, controversially landing in Guadalajara’s airport while José Manuel de la Torre was still officially the team’s head coach. In spite of ‘Chepo’s long-standing credit with the ‘Rebaño’ faithful, stemming from the Apertura 2006 title against Toluca, the rocky start of two wins and five losses in the first eight league games of the Apertura 2015- with relegation also looming closely- signalled the end of De la Torre’s second time in charge.

Even though Chivas players reportedly urged late owner Jorge Vergara for ‘Chepo’s stay of execution, and with Almeyda staying in a hotel in the city while the drama ensued, the Argentine’s appointment took place in a grand ceremony on the Estadio Akron pitch in mid-September. Almeyda was straight forward and urged fans to get behind the team: “We are going to need the people’s support so the giant that is Chivas can return. I am not here to save you from relegation. I am here to wake the giant”.

And that is exactly what he did. ‘El Pelado’’s reign lasted a little under three years; from September of 2015 to June of 2018. The team’s first title took less than two months to arrive: the Copa MX Apertura 2015, won with an Oswaldo Alanís goal in Leon’s Nou Camp stadium. Then came the Supercopa MX obtention in 2016, another Copa MX win in 2017, closely followed by the Clausura 2017 league title against Tigres, and a Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL) triumph by defeating Toronto FC in the decisive match. Almeyda was no longer in charge for the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.

Almeyda took charge of 147 games for ‘El Rebaño’, winning 64, drawing 40 and losing 43 in the process. The team scored 203 goals, conceded 174 (+29 difference), and accumulated 232 points in total (average of 1.58 per match). The former River Plate manager took over from De la Torre to finish the Apertura 2015 outside of playoff spots, and managed an additional five league tournaments, with mixed results.

• Clausura 2016: 5th place (28 points in 17 games). Lost the Liguilla playoff quarterfinals against Club América with a 2-1 aggregate score. Carlos Peña missed a crucial penalty in the away leg at the Estadio Azteca. Won the Supercopa MX.
• Apertura 2016: 4th place (28 points in 17 games). Lost the Liguilla playoff quarterfinals – again – against Club América with a 2-1 aggregate score.
• Clausura 2017: 3rd place (27 points in 17 games). Won the title after eliminating Atlas, Toluca and Tigres in the Liguilla playoffs. Won the Copa MX.
• Apertura 2017: 13th place (18 points in 17 games). Didn’t make the Liguilla playoffs.
• Clausura 2018: 17th place (15 points in 17 games). Didn’t make the Liguilla playoffs. Won the SCCL, earning Chivas a spot at the 2018 Club World Cup.

Almeyda left Chivas in June of 2018 amidst a string of bad results and controversy with then-Omnilife Chivas CEO José Luis Higuera, in versions that include a public back and forth between both parties, with the Argentine quoting “dignity” and a “lack of union” as the main reasons for his departure. The Azul native stated he hopes to return to ‘El Redil’ in the future.

The Vucetich era

A long-time target for Guadalajara, ‘Rey Midas’ took over from Luis Fernando Tena for the Guard1anes 2020 tournament, after ‘El Flaco’ managed just a mere point from the first three league games. Vucetich’s first match in charge was the 2-1 win over Atlético de San Luis. Fun fact: Almeyda’s first game in charge was also a 2-1 win, but over Vucetich’s Querétaro side.

With relegation no longer a threat due to the Mexican Football Federation “suspending” it until 2025, the multiple league winner stated in his presentation in August of 2020 that managing Chivas is a tough mountain to climb. “Without a doubt the most important challenge (of my career) because of the amount of fans, what the team means to Mexicans… We are committed to give our maximum effort… we will aspire to reach the top, which is the title”, Vucetich mentioned.

Chivas’ run in the Guard1anes 2020 started out with uncertainty under Tena, but finished hopefully under their new manager, reaching the semifinals after leaving Necaxa behind in the ‘Repechaje’ and América in the quarterfinals, with three world class goals by Cristian ‘Chicote’ Calderón. This is how the rest of ‘Vuce’’s time in charge has gone.

• Guard1anes 2020: 7th place (26 points in 17 games). Crashed out of the tournament in the semifinals of the Liguilla playoffs against Club León, losing 2-1 in aggregate.
• Guard1anes Clausura 2021: 9th place (23 points in 17 games). Lost to Pachuca 4-2 in the single-leg ‘Repechaje’, didn’t make the Liguilla playoffs.
• Grita México A21 (currently underway): 11th place (9 points in 7 games).

Vucetich’s first tournament could be seen as a success, the second one a resounding failure, and the third one has had a rocky start. ‘Rey Midas’’ numbers as ‘Rebaño’ manager stand as follows: 43 matches, with 16 wins, 16 draws and 11 losses. The team has scored 53 goals and conceded 50 (+3 difference), amassing 64 points in the process (1.49 per game). As a reminder, Almeyda managed 147 times and won 64 games, drew 40, and lost 43. The team scored 203 times, conceded on 174 occasions(+29 difference), and accumulated 232 points in total (average of 1.58 per match).

What next?

Granted, both managers have very different squads and have played against different rivals. One has been in charge for barely a year when the other had almost three to work with. But, numbers don’t lie. Vucetich’s side has a lower win percentage (.37, compared to Almeyda’s .43), a lower goal difference (+3 compared to +29), less goals scored per game (1.23 compared to 1.38), and only holds a slightly improved defensive record (1.16 compared to 1.18). Statistically, Almeyda won a trophy every 29 matches. Vucetich has none, with the disclaimer that Copa MX is no longer played.

Our friends at Rebaño Pasión took a look at Chivas’ last five managers and compared their records, in case you want to check that out as well.

Changing a manager mid-season is never a team’s first choice, and Chivas’ next few league games will be crucial to decide Vucetich’s future. The next three matchups for the ‘Rojiblancos’ are away at Pumas, at home against Pachuca and away at América. In case the at-times volatile high management in Guadalajara decides to move on, replacements mentioned in the Mexican press include Jaime Lozano, Antonio Mohamed and Marcelo Michel Leaño, Youth Football Director already at the club.

An eventual Almeyda return seems impossible at the moment, since the Argentine is under contract at the San José Earthquakes until December of 2022, but the Liga MX is nothing short of a jack-in-the-box of endless surprises, so never say never.

While we won’t cover each team individually, we will review some of the bigger stories of the league as well as highlight some players or clubs that are not being talked about as much. This season we saw the Seattle Sounders set a record for longest unbeaten run at 13 games and on the other side of the coin Atlanta United and the San Jose Earthquakes went winless in 11 matches.

The comeback story of Chicharito Hernandez to the coming out party for Ricardo Pepi have been some of the feel-good stories so far. While the firing of Gabriel Heinze and the mess that is Inter Miami has left fans and pundits with their mouths open.With a half season still left to go, MLS will surely provide a lot to talk about after the All-Star break. For now, let’s enjoy some of the best stories and highlights of the 2021 MLS season so far.

The rise of Chicharito

Fans in Los Angeles were scratching their heads when Javier Hernández could only score 2 goals in 12 games last season. After an offseason of soul searching and a coaching change Chicharito found his scoring touch in MLS. 10 goals in 10 games, and while he has gone down with injury no one can question that Chicharito is the rainbow of a rather bland Los Angeles Galaxy team.

The fall of Gabriel Heinze and Atlanta United

Local media in Atlanta said it best, Gabriel Heinze’s time as coach of Atlanta United was so quick that the media never saw him in person. For all the reports and the “sources”, Heinze did not fit in, but had the Atlanta United brass done their homework they would have known that. You don’t ask a guy who spent his career avoiding the media to be the “face” of the club. On the field, Atlanta United did little to justify not firing Heinze winning only two games for the Argentine manager.

Inexplicably the club is still trying to make high price signings that will almost certainly shackle the next coach that comes in. While Atlanta United boasts that they spend the money, they are a club with a lot of expensive deadweight.

The Revolution in New England

An old dog doing with the same trick, Bruce Arena has built a winner in New England. The Revolution have done everything they were criticized for not doing before the arrival of Bruce Arena. Carlos Gil, Gustavo Bou, and Adam Buksa could be the best three DPs in all of MLS considering their production and work rate. As always Bruce is building a great team off of a great triangle offense, and as usual American players are blossoming with Arena, Matt Polster, Matt Turner, and Brandon Bye are a few examples. Anyone watching the Revs knows that the team is an MLS Cup candidate.

The Matías Almeyda experiment

While Matías Almeyda has won the hearts of many, his life philosophy, his approach to the game, and his charisma make him a great person to showcase on social media. And that has been pretty much it for Matías Almeyda in MLS, he is a great story. His team…. a nightmare, 11th in the West, San Jose fans have grown tired of seeing their team eek out wins and watch from afar how other teams are playoff bound. While not all Almeyda’s fault, the firing of Jesse Fioranelli is the first sign that the Argentine’s experiment is coming to an end.

The unbeatable Sounders

The Revs have competition for the MLS Cup and they’re in Seattle. The Sounders have been special this season and all while doing it without Nicolás Lodeiro and Jordan Morris. Kudos to Raúl Ruidíaz for showing that a DP steps up, the leading scorer of the league, at the time of this writing, has proven 10-fold that Gareca made a huge mistake not taking him to the Copa America.

Los Angeles weak club

LAFC has gone down the pecking order of the best clubs in MLS and this season the team has looked well, stale. Much more should be expected by a team that is still largely the same group of players that broke the MLS record for points in aseason. Bob Bradley has the team in the playoffs, yes, but 1 game above .500 is that really the measuring stick? Yeah, Vela has been good but Rossi not so much, and to be honest the team has been largely disappointing and are in the clear mostly for the forgiving league MLS can be to some. What to do with Brian Rodríguez seems like a question Bradley will need to answer quickly although help is on the way in forward Cristian Arango.

A dark horse in NYCFC

Statement game after statement game is all NYCFC has done this season with big wins against the Crew and Orlando City. Firmly in third in the East after an inconsistent start the club is on a three-game winning streak and is playing some of the most attractive soccer in the league. NYCFC of 2021 could be the team to finally end the New York champion drought in MLS.

Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi has been one of the best young players to watch this whole season with strong performances for an otherwise lackluster FC Dallas side. Subject to strong transfer rumors, Pepi might not be in MLS for long so watch him!

In the dumps

Inter Miami has just been a rollercoaster ride of bad play, bad decisions, and weak performances. The worst team in MLS with only 12 points, they’re off the field fiascos are jaw dropping, recently loaning a $9 million signing for free in Matías Pellegrini. For all the crap he gets, Gonzalo Higuaín has 7 goals on the year and is the best player on the worst team this league has seen in a long time.

Kudos to the Crew and Austin FC

Three words: Beautiful Soccer Stadiums! The Crew joins the club of being the only MLS team to play in two stadiums built for them and Austin’s Q2 Stadium is one of the nicest in the whole league, and a worthy atmosphere! Not to be left out isTQL Stadium of FC Cincinnati all great venues for Soccer in the U.S.

Honorable mentions

Orlando City and Minnesota United are teams to look out for down the stretch, both teams have shown that they can play good soccer and get wins. The Colorado Rapids quietly are in the top spots in the West while Nashville SC have only lost 1 game this whole season.

Matías Almeyda loves a challenge, not only did River Plate return to the topflight of Argentine soccer, Almeyda would take his soccer mind and life philosophy on the road and guided Chivas of Guadalajara to five championships after a nine-year title drought. At the height of his coaching career, Almedya took on one of the least attractive jobs in Major League Soccer, the San Jose Earthquakes in 2019.

The road has not been easy, after 2 up and down seasons, where the team was able to qualify for the postseason in 2020, the latest losing skid has left the fighter thinking what else he can do to get anything more out of one of the smallest budgets in all of MLS. In the Earthquakes latest defeat to the Galaxy by 1-0 the Argentine coach stated, “if I feel that I can’t give more, that I can’t transmit more to the group, I will talk to the people I have to talk to.”

The San Jose Earthquakes under Matías Almeyda

Since Matías Almeyda’s arrival in San Jose he seems to be the only true star on the team. The clubs marketing and social media feed usually has at least 1 content a week around their coach. On the field it may not be time to hit the panic button. San Jose have won 3 games and lost 5 and sit sixth in playoff position, but among the 5 losses is a four-game losing streak after a very healthy start to the season.

Almeyda knew what he was getting himself into, San Jose would not go out and spend $15 million on a Pity Martinez player like Atlanta United did, but the coach has had to watch as his team, one of the few in all of MLS that has only 1 DP and 2 DP slots open, not provide any real lift in quality to the side. Rather San Jose’s management hopes that Almeyda will work his magic and make San Jose a good team with sheer grit and fighting spirit.

Imports such as Luciano Abecasis, Eric Remedi, and Benji Kikanovic are hardly the names you place your playoff hopes on the back of. As Almeyda’s approach has always been about team unity and fighting for each other, MLS continues to gravitate towards, the haves and have nots. Having at least two designated players and a healthy set of TAM and GAM signings are key to even think about the playoffs.

The San Jose Earthquakes management has the ball in their court, without the proper players, Matías Almeyda is nothing more than online content, a decent story, but on the field the Earthquakes are simply a bubble team. Getting Almeyda a much-needed increase in depth and quality is urgent and key at this point.

After two years and all his hard work, Matías Almeyda finds himself at a crossroads, stay and try to finally crack the puzzle that is the San Jose Earthquakes, or step down, and leave the organization right back where they started, without a clear road, or identity, the one Matías Almeyda is so hard trying to save and cultivate.

With the energy focused on what will be a challenging new soccer season and aiming to improve the 8th position finish from last year, the Quakes have made interesting adquisitions to strengthen their roster.

But San Jose not only added some new players to their team, but by doing so they reunited footballers formerly coached by Almeyda. With the landing of Javier Eduardo Lopez, Eric Remedi and Luciano Abecasis, now there are seven players on the squadthat have previously worked under the Argentine. Take a look at these footballers.

Daniel Vega

The veteran goalkeeper has had a long career in Argentinian soccer before living the experience abroad and then settling in the US. After making his breakthrough at Nueva Chicago, localgiants River Plate acquired him. He stayed there for a long time, even when the team was relegated and Almeyda stepped in as the coach. In that second division campaign he was coached by the current Quakes boss.

Andrés Ríos

Another man originally from River Plate, where he played under Almeyda’s tenure to get back the Millonario to the top flight. Despite he looked as a promising player for the club, he didn’t stay for too long and then played for a number of teams before arriving to San Jose.

Luciano Abecasis

The recent signing also has a number of years playing soccer and met Almeyda at River Plate. Abecasis is a right-back who had some trouble to being a starteruntil he found more minutes at Godoy Cruz. After a short spell at Lanús, he went to Libertad the Paraguay before making this important movement to reunite with Almeyda.

Oswaldo Alanís

Alanís was part of the succesful stint of the Argentineas Chivas de Guadalajara’s first team manager. The defender has played an important role to that team and some years after he and Almeyda took separate ways, he joined San Jose to be under his leadership again.

Javier Eduardo López

Another player who met Almeyda at thosetriumphant years at Chivas, he is younger than the footballers previously mentioned and also performs as an attacking player. He landed at San Jose on January on loan for the 2021 season and looks set to bean important piecefor the coach’s plans for the MLS campaign.

Carlos Fierro

Almeyda not only signed midfielders or defensive players for his San Jose team. Fierro is the striker that the Argentinecoach added to the squad after having him in his Chivas’ spell. Those years seem quite clear to have delighted themanageras he now works with three players from those times.

Eric Remedi

One of the latest signings from San Jose, Remedi is the only player from this list that didn’t met Almeyda at River or Chivas: he did it at Banfield, when the Argentine led their return to the first division. After succeding at that club, he moved to the US to play for Atlanta United. So apart from adquiring a known-face for the coach, the Quakes have a good midfilder with MLS experience.