Finally someone says it: Women’s Pumas and their toxic relationship with the Liguilla
Laura Herrera, the midfielder who seems to have more common sense than the entire Pumas women’s coaching staff combined, has dropped the bomb: the team does not know how to play decisive moments. What a surprise! After years of being eliminated as if they were in a “who leaves the tournament the fastest” competition, someone finally admitted it. Could it be that the fear of winning is stronger than the desire to lift a trophy?
“Let’s learn from the teams that don’t faint in the quarterfinals”
With the frankness of someone who no longer has anything to lose, Herrera dropped this gem: “We have to learn to play Liguilla”. Revolutionary, right? As if no one had realized that losing 5-0 in the finals is not exactly a winning strategy. The player, with the patience of a saint, compared the team to Rayadas, Tigres and América (yes, those that do make it to the next round), as if suddenly saying “I want to be like them” would activate a magic switch.
But be careful, not everything is self-criticism. Between tears of frustration and nervous laughter, Herrera also blurted out: “This is the best team Pumas has ever had.” Of course, because saying “we are a disaster” doesn’t look good in interviews. Of course, he acknowledged that the locker room is “pure” (translation: there are no longer egos that outweigh the results). Will it be enough? Time will tell… or the next league win.
As if that were not enough, the university student has just overcome a torn ligament and the small detail that the previous coach ignored her like a math homework. Now, between rehabilitation and dreams of returning to the National Team, she has to shoulder the mission of teaching her teammates how not to freeze when the game matters. Nothing difficult, right?
Can Pumas women stop being the “promising team” to become champions? Or will we continue to hear, in 2026, another version of “the Liguilla scares us.” Meanwhile, Herrera will continue to be the voice of reason… or the only one who says what everyone thinks.
Did you like this gem of football sincerity? Share it and discover more stories where women’s football breaks patterns (and sometimes, hearts).
