Posted by Cruz Azul are one of Mexico’s biggest and most historic clubs. According to an annual survey conducted by Consulta Mifosky, la Máquina are the fourth-best supported club in Mexico. The club also ranks fourth on the list of most league titles with eight.
Nevertheless, Cruz Azul’s last league title came in the Winter 1997 tournament. In the intervening time, the club has become renowned for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This has led to the creation of the verb “cruzazulear” (literally, to Cruz Azul) to describe someone choking under pressure.
The most notorious “cruzazuleada” came in the second leg of the Clausura 2013 final. In that final, Cruz Azul faced archrival América. Having won the first leg 1-0 at home, la Máquina gained a man advantage in the 14th minute of the return leg, when Jesús Molina was given his marching orders for a last man foul on Teófilo Gutiérrez. The visitors then took a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute, with Gutiérrez firing home. As the seconds ticked away, los Cementeros seemed set to lift their first Liga MX trophy in more than 15 years.
However, América miraculously evened the tie in the dying moments of the match. After Aquivaldo Mosquera headed home in the 89th minute, América were awarded a corner in the 3rd minute of extra time. From that corner, goalkeeper Moisés Muñoz found the back of the net with a diving header, sending the América fans and coach Miguel Herrera into raptures. América eventually won the title on penalties, culminating the darkest chapter in Cruz Azul’s history.
In the years since that final against América, Cruz Azul have struggled to come close to breaking their title drought. Before qualifying for the liguilla in the Apertura 2017, los Cementeros had gone six seasons without making it. Yet, la Máquina were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage, a defeat which was made all the more painful because it came at the hands of América.
The first sign of real change at Cruz Azul came in December of 2017, when Portugese tactician Pedro Caixinha was hired as head coach. Caixinha was already known in Mexico for his work at Santos Laguna, where he led los Guerreros to the Copa MX Apertura 2014 and Liga MX Clausura 2015 titles. Known for his strong personality, Caixinha set to addressing the mental fragility that had plagued Cruz Azul’s players for years. To this end, he hired a consultant to help with team building and the emotional intelligence of the squad. Yet, the changes implemented by Caixinha did not bear fruit in his first season, as la Máquina finished 12th, outside of the liguilla positions.
This summer, Cruz Azul put their remodel into overdrive. The club brought in former Mexican international forward Ricardo Peláez as sporting director. The hiring was a coup for Cruz Azul, as Peláez’s reputation as a first-rate sporting director was already established. After taking the same position at América in November 2011, Peláez masterminded the club’s ascent from one of their lowest points since the turn of the century back to the top table of Mexican football. By the time he left las Águilas in April 2017, Peláez had helped América win two league titles (Clausura 2013 and Apertura 2014) and two CONCACAF Champions Leagues (2014-15, 2015-16).
Upon arriving at Cruz Azul, Peláez began reshaping the playing staff. La Máquina made 11 signings this summer. Of those 11 signings, five (Pablo Aguilar, Roberto Alvarado, Milton Caraglio, Iván Marcone, Elías Hernández) are now regular starters. Cruz Azul paid a reported $16.6 million for these five players. The heavy summer spending meant that Cruz Azul moved from 7th to 5th position on the list of most expensive squads in the Liga MX.
The new starters have fit in seamlessly so far. Marcone has become a key cog in midfield, breaking up play and distributing the ball quickly. The 19-year old Alvarado got the winner in round 3 against Tigres, the only league match he hasn’t started. Aguilar has become a stalwart at the back, with la Máquina conceding only one goal in four league matches. Hernández has been perhaps the most impressive performer, terrorizing opposing defenses with his pinpoint crossing and tricky dribbling.
A further benefit of these quality additions has been increased depth in Cruz Azul’s squad. All three of Cruz Azul’s winning goals so far in Liga MX play have come from substitutes. Furthermore, six different players have scored Cruz Azul’s six league goals. With Ecuadorian winger Ángel Mena having recently returned from a right quad injury, Cruz Azul will have even more competition for places in the starting 11.
Cruz Azul have also benefitted from moving back into the Estadio Azteca. Mexico’s most famous stadium was home to la Máquina from 1971-1996. These years coincided with the most successful period in the club’s history, with los Cementeros claiming 4 league titles, 1 Copa MX, 1 Champions Cup and 2 CONCACAF Champions Leagues in that span.
The Estadio Azul, which Cruz Azul moved into after leaving the Azteca, had begun to feel cursed, and attendances had begun to suffer in recent seasons. However, fan support has risen dramatically at the Azteca. Cruz Azul drew 45,385 supporters for their round 1 match against Puebla, while 55,571 took in their round 3 encounter with Tigres. These two matches saw the two highest attendance figures in the league so far this season. This increased enthusiasm has propelled Cruz Azul forward at home, allowing them to overcome the poor state of the pitch at the Azteca.
Additionally, the psychological work that Caixinha began last season has begun to bear fruit. In round 4 Cruz Azul visited Tijuana’s Estadio Caliente, one of Mexico’s toughest stadiums. Although they went down a man in the 22nd minute, la Máquina managed to scrape a draw after Jerry Flores equalized in the 91st minute. This version of Cruz Azul seems much stronger mentally, to the point where they are beginning to author reverse “cruzazuleadas”. This mental fortitude, coupled with the increased talent in the squad, means that Cruz Azul are one of the favorites to win the Apertura 2018 title.
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