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Liga MX: Pachuca turnaround could end brief playoff drought

By Thomas Buckley

PACHUCA, MEXICO - AUGUST 18: Víctor Guzman of Pachuca celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team during the fifth round match between Pachuca and Lobos BUAP as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Hidalgo Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo by Jam Media/Getty Images)
PACHUCA, MEXICO - AUGUST 18: Víctor Guzman of Pachuca celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team during the fifth round match between Pachuca and Lobos BUAP as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Hidalgo Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo by Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Pachuca is little more than 2 years removed from its last league title, but the Tuzos have missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons. The Apertura 2018 promised to be bumpy as there was significant turnover and turmoil on and off the field.

The modest expectations for the season seemed to be well-founded as the Tuzos lost their first three games while scoring just one goal, then earned their first Liga MX point in Matchday 4 with a scoreless draw at UNAM. The team’s listless performance on the pitch seemed to be partially influenced by the uninspired play of captain Erick Gutiérrez, the classy 23-year-old midfielder who had come up through the ranks of the Pachuca system.

Before the season, the Tuzos had come close to facilitating Gutiérrez’s long-sought transfer to a European club, but when it didn’t come off, the skipper appeared to let it affect his play. New coach Pako Ayestarán struggled to establish an identity and the loss of title-winning Diego Alonso (he had coached the Tuzos for four years before accepting the gig at Monterrey) looked to be a bigger impediment than had been imagined.

Pachuca had also lost midfield organizer Keisuke Honda, the Japanese superstar who led the team in goals and assists last season. The transition from aging goalkeeper Oscar Pérez to Alfonso Blanco did not go smoothly either.

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The Tuzos Dig out of the Hole

Heading into Week 5, Pachuca fans were annoyed at the prospects of another long, unrewarding season, so the visit from league minnow Lobos BUAP came at just the right time. The two teams slogged through a scoreless first half before the Tuzos came alive. Angelo Sagal, Víctor Guzmán and Gutiérrez (a golazo!) scored to salvage the Tuzos’ season.

Since that victory, Pachuca has not lost a game, posting a 3-2-0 record in all competitions, climbing within 2 points of a playoff position despite losing their captain.

On Aug. 29, Pachuca announced that PSV Eindhoven had signed Guti to a 5-year-deal. How would the Tuzos respond to the loss of their skipper? The answer came two days later at Estadio Akron.

Pachuca traveled to Guadalajara to do battle with the surging Chivas and played with determination and grit, trouncing the hosts with opportunistic scoring and an inspired performance from Franco Jara. Twenty-year-old Pablo López scored the clinching goal and was immediately anointed as the latest starlet to emerge from the Tuzos farm system.

Pachuca followed that up with a decisive 2-0 Copa MX win over Puebla to claim first place in their group and advance to the knockout stage where the Tuzos will face second division Tapachula in the Round of 16.

Is the Future Now?

Pachuca’s mini-resurgence has raised spirits, but it might be short-lived. The Tuzos face the Tigres this weekend and then have a killer 3-game stretch: Cruz Azul at home on Matchday 11, at Toluca, then at home against defending champion Santos on Matchday 13.

Coach Ayestarán will look to his young midfield duo of Erick Aguirre (21 years old) and Víctor Guzmán (23) to carry the load for the Tuzos. Aguirre and Guzmán returned to Pachuca midweek after spending a week training with El Tri, their first invitation to the senior national team. Both players acquitted themselves well in Tuesday’s game against Team USA. If they continue with the confidence they have the talent to play on the international stage, as well as the determination to work hard to secure spots with El Tri heading toward Qatar 2022, Pachuca will be the beneficiary.

Up front, Franco Jara seems to have shaken off the injury bug that plagued him last season and newest signing Leo Ulloa should be ready to play a bigger role in the second half (the Tuzos acquired him from Leicester City on Aug. 4, after Matchday 3).

On defense, the Tuzos have conceded the second-fewest goals in Liga MX (7 goals against in 8 games) despite goalie Blanco’s shaky start and the lack of full fitness of normally rock-solid center back Oscar Murillo.

Jorge “Burrito” Hernández continues to be a pest in his defensive midfield role and center backs Stiven Barreiro and Alexis Peña have been more than adequate. Fullback Manny García has not matched his form from the Clausura 2016 title-winning team, but he remains reliable on the left side. The right fullback spot has primarily been manned by “Shaggy” Martínez with Raúl “Dedos” López available in a pinch.

The key for the Tuzos will be playing possession football and capitalizing on opportunities created within coach Ayestarán’s preferred attacking style. Guzmán, in particular is quite dangerous when he gets forward cleanly, especially on overlapping runs into either the left or right channel.

If Pachuca’s starters stay healthy, I could see them qualifying for the Liguilla, if they manage to survive the Matchday 11-13 gauntlet relatively unscathed (no more than one loss). Then, the Tuzos should be able to springboard into the postseason with a rather easy final four matches.

Whatever happens this season, Pachuca should feel confident that a return to the playoffs is imminent although some careful recruiting during the December transfer market might be wise.

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