Current national champion with América-MEX and leader of Liga MX with just one round to go before the end of the first phase, Brazilian coach André Jardin wants to take advantage of the great moment the club is experiencing to win a place in the FIFA Club World Cupplayed in 2025.
To this end, this Tuesday, América-MEX will host Pachuca, at the Azteca Stadium, at 11:15 pm (Brasília time), in the first game of the Concachampions semi-finals, the most important interclub competition in North and Central America. The biggest winner of the tournament, with seven trophies, América-MEX has not won the competition since the 2016 edition.
Tomorrow everyone at the Azteca! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/UImZJDdKGt
— Club América (@ClubAmerica) April 23, 2024
This year, the Mexican club has an extra incentive to win the competition, as the champion guarantees the last remaining Concacaf spot in the new 2025 Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States. The new format of the tournament will bring together 32 teams12 Europeans and 6 South Americans, including Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense, champions of the last three editions of the Libertadores.
André Jardine commented on the possibility of competing in the World Cup, highlighting that it is a stimulus for the Concachampions team. “Of course, it is a huge stimulus to be able to take América to the World Cup, even more so in this new version next year, which will feature a greater number of the world’s biggest clubs. We are very focused and confident, as this is an objective not only from the club, but mine, personally.”
“A knockout competition does not tolerate mistakes. Let’s respect Pachuca, but always be aware that we are capable of reaching the title and writing another beautiful page in the history of América”, he continued.
Who will win the series and get the ticket to the Final?
¿🦅 @ClubAmerica o @Tuzos ⚪🔵? pic.twitter.com/ISMjAINRYx
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 23, 2024
The Brazilian assessed the team’s moment and projected constant improvement during the season. “We’re going through a great moment, without a doubt. But the fact that we’re already qualified for the knockout stage in Liga MX doesn’t make us lose our footing, because we know we have points to improve to achieve all of the season’s goals.”
“America has a huge tradition in Concachampions and this fast bothers the fans, as I know that the five years without winning the Liga MX bothered them too”, said the coach, who, after winning the Liga MX in his first tournament with the club, ended up with an uncomfortable fasting for the team.
For the 2025 World Cup, four places were allocated to Concacaf, distributed among all Concachampions champions between 2021 and 2024. Thus, the Mexicans Monterrey and León and the North American Seattle Sounders are already guaranteed. One place remains, contested between the semifinalists of the current edition: América-MEX, Pachuca and Columbus Crew. Monterrey, also present in the semi-final, already has a place secured.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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