Coach
Cruz Azul: Pedro Caixinha
Caixinha favors possession fútbol with attacking flair, and the Portuguese taskmaster demands defensive accountability. He likes his fullbacks to get forward and protects his defense with a double pivot. Caixinha tends to stay with his line-up, trusting them to make in-game adjustments or relying on their ability to adapt to new tactical formations. He has a preferred substitution pattern and will take out “stars” if they are not performing.
América: Miguel Herrera
The fiery coach has a conservative streak, sticking with a 5-man defense despite an ineffective offense. He has lucked out in that his central defenders have been scoring in bunches and midfielders Rodríguez and Uribe have been opportunistic, too. His adjustments tend to be predictable and conservative, but he has such a deep bench that it is hard to go wrong. He coaches more through emotion and passion than tactics.