The Favorite Devil and the Illusive Rookie
There they are, our Red Devils of Toluca, beginning their triumphant walk towards what everyone hopes will be a glorious two-time championship. Their first obstacle on this trek to greatness: the Juárez Braves, a team that is so excited to be in its first liguilla that they are probably still taking photos with the “Welcome to the Playoffs” sign. How touching. The choricero team, carrying the heavy mantle of current champion of the Liga MX, arrives as the great favorite. Because, of course, in football things are always as simple and predictable as a friendly match.
But wait, don’t claim victory yet. Marcel Ruiz, in a burst of lucidity that surely disconcerted a few, dares to be cautious. Imagine, a footballer being pragmatic instead of foaming at the mouth promising victories. “If they qualified it’s for a reason,” declared Ruiz, with the wisdom of someone who has just discovered that water is wet. He added that it will be a “difficult duel”, a revelation that has undoubtedly shaken the foundations of global football strategy. Who would have thought? A quarterfinal match, being difficult.
The Inexplicable Choricera Calm in the Face of the Evidence
For those who pay attention to mundane details such as results, the Mexican team closed the regular phase with a series of draws that raised more than one eyebrow. But concerns? What are those? For Marcel Ruiz and his gang, that was just a “circumstantial issue.” A small and insignificant parenthesis in his unstoppable march towards glory. It’s like your car starts smoking right before a long trip and you classify it as a “controlled release of fumes.” Nothing to be alarmed about.
The strategy seems to be as complex as it is effective: “we will try to take advantage of the home field, as we have always done.” Revolutionary! Why hadn’t it occurred to anyone before? Playing well at home, what a radical concept. And then he finishes with the definitive pearl of wisdom: “and nothing, we have to play the games.” Thanks, Marcel. For a moment we thought that the championship would be decided with a game of rock, paper, scissors.
Regarding the label of top candidate, the midfielder shows an indifference that should be studied by Buddhist monks. He remembers, with the modesty that characterizes him, that last season no one put them in the pocket and they still won the crown. “We honestly don’t pay attention to that,” he says, while an army of sports analysts on television spend ten hours a day discussing precisely that. The team chemistry, according to him, is what sets them apart. A chemistry so powerful that they could probably solve the periodic table between passes.
And the obligatory compliment to the fans could not be missed. Marcel Ruiz, without his pulse trembling, classified the choricera fans as “the best in the country.” A totally objective statement and free of any bias, of course. “The stadium is always full,” he proclaimed, sending a subtle but clear message to other fans who sometimes confuse the stadium with an empty yoga room. The liguilla atmosphere, he warns, weighs heavily on the rivals. Which is a fancy way of saying that the volume of the shouting is directly proportional to the number of mistakes the visiting team will make.
So get ready for the show. The favorite with his “circumstantial issues” against the rookie with dreams of greatness. A series that promises… well, promises that the games will be played. And in football, sometimes, that’s the only sure thing.
Do you think the champion’s experience will be enough or the rookie will surprise?Share your prediction on your social networks and discover more analysis about the exciting final stretch of Apertura 2025.
