Tijuana Xolos: Where is the “Dynamic, Intense, Offensive Style” Eduardo Coudet Promised?
Club Tijuana is off to a nightmarish start to the Liga MX Apertura 2017 with two consecutive losses to start the new season.
The opening game of the new tournament was a disappointing 2-0 loss against Cruz Azul at home, then the recent 1-0 loss against Necaxa away from home was not much better and arguably worse.
Before the new season had started, there was speculation surrounding the team after Miguel Herrera’s departure from the club but Eduardo Coudet seemed like a young, exciting option to take charge of the team. The Argentine skipper had promised a “dynamic, intense, offensive” style of play that has yet to be seen this season.
While a lot of the blame can go to the players, there is an obvious lack of structure in the midfield that Eduardo Coudet can be responsible for.
One of the only players that have played this style of play has been the right-back Matias Aguirregaray, who has fought for every ball and kept a very upbeat and intense rhythm throughout these first two games. Other than the Uruguayan defender, the team has looked unmotivated, lacking creativity and offensive capabilities.
One of the more questionable decisions recently from Coudet came in the 1-0 loss in Aguascalientes. After a red card to defender Alejandro Donatti, “El Chacho” opted to take out the winger Matias Pisano for defender Michael Orozco. This substitution contradicts the style of play the Argentine had promised going into the season. Taking out an offensive midfielder for a defender, even after the red card is the polar-opposite of this “dynamic, intense, offensive” style of play.
In that game against Necaxa, the Xolos were up a man from the 29th minute up until the 47th minute and still were unable to create many scoring opportunities. The border city side has only had five shots on goal and only five offside calls this season, suggesting that the team is not going forward much at all. To put it in perspective, Cruz Azul had six offside calls in the season opener against the Xolos at the Estadio Caliente. The only areas where Coudet’s Xolos have excelled in are in possession and disciplinary issues. The Aztec Canines have had more possession than their opponents in these two games but have also had six yellow cards and one red card to go along with it.
The Xoloitzcuintles have now not scored in 180 minutes in league play and could see that drought continue as they will face a very tough opponent, Monterrey in week 3. The Xolos will also start their Copa MX play this Tuesday, August 1 at the Estadio Caliente against Puebla and maybe a win there could motivate the team going into the Apertura week 3 clash. Eduardo Coudet needs to figure something out with this team that he mostly built before the fans and the front office loses patience with him. Club Tijuana need this “dynamic, intense, offensive” style of play that was promised.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.