América and Cruz Azul are set to clash Thursday night, marking their third consecutive matchup in the Liga MX Liguilla
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Match will be played at the Estadio Olímpico UniversitarioThis marks teams' third consecutive Liguilla meetingAmérica won the previous two encountersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
América and Cruz Azul are set to clash for a third consecutive time in the Liga MX Liguilla, with recent history favoring Las Águilas. However, it was Cruz Azul who claimed the most recent maatch between the two, eliminating América in the quarterfinals of the CONCACF Champions Cup under the direction of Vicente Sánchez.
At a news conference ahead of the first leg of the Clausura 2025 semifinal – set to be played at Estadio Olímpico Universitario – América head coach André Jardine made it clear that his side isn’t motivated by revenge.
"They’re a team we respect. We want to win every match, fight for our greatness, and for our goals," he said. "I don’t know if revenge is more important than that. Whatever the challenge, we must overcome it. Our desire to achieve our objectives is greater than any sense of payback, It’s not a feeling of revenge, it’s a feeling of achieving our goals."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
América are on the verge of making history, poised to become the first club to reach seven consecutive Liga MX finals. Jardine has a remarkable track record, having won all 11 knockout-round series he has coached with América during the "Fiesta Grande."
Out of 21 Liguilla matches, he has lost just once – the second leg of the Apertura 2023 semifinal against Atlético de San Luis. However, América had already sealed the series with a dominant 5-0 win in the first leg. Since then, Jardine has gone 17 straight knockout matches without a defeat.
"The numbers show that Club América is on the right path in every aspect," he said. "It’s the result of hard work by many people. These aren’t just my accomplishments; a lot of good things were already in place before I arrived. There’s a front office that knows where it’s headed, focused on building a strong squad and maintaining a well-structured club.
"You can feel that seriousness and professionalism in every contract and every player. It fills us with pride, but also responsibility, because expectations keep growing. To meet them, we have to keep improving, because our opponents are also evolving. It’s a constant race – if you don’t want to fall behind, you must keep developing."
Jardine also shared updates on the squad. Midfielder Jonathan dos Santos has fully recovered from a knee injury and will be available for the semifinal. Brian Rodríguez could feature in the second leg, while Alejandro Zendejas, who came off injured in the second leg against Pachuca, is not a major concern.
Jardine said a final decision on whether Zendejas will start will be made closer to kickoff.
Getty Images SportWHAT ANDRÉ JARDINE SAID
The Brazilian coach also spoke about the growing rivalry between América and Cruz Azul, with the two clubs set to face each other in the Liguilla for a third straight tournament.
"I believe all teams evolve. There are details that change – some big, some small – that apply to both us and Cruz Azul," Jardine explained. "Even when a club keeps the same coach, it’s not the same team as in past tournaments. You grow as a group. Clubs understand that change is necessary, and Cruz Azul has found a way to maintain continuity while improving. They’ve made roster changes, and that naturally affects the way they attack and defend.
"Cruz Azul has a deep squad with many options, which makes them a flexible team. They can play with two holding midfielders, three in midfield, or even a back line of five. They adapt frequently – it’s a team with structure and identity, regardless of who’s coaching them."
And the frequent matchups mean both clubs know each other well.
"We’ve faced Cruz Azul enough to know what to expect," he said. "Even if they change 10 percent of their lineup or tactics, we know how we have to defend. It’s a well-studied matchup for both sides. Execution and strategy will make the difference."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?
Las Águilas visit Cruz Azul Thursday night in the first leg of their semifinal clash. The return leg will be played Sunday at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.
