[MLS SPOTLIGHT] Veteran Mexican coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola -- known as "Chelis" -- is reportedly in line of take over
for Robin Fraser as the Chivas USA head coach, and he certainly doesn't lack for opinions, saying what's wrong with Chivas USA and what he will do.
Jorge Vergara recently regained full ownership of Chivas USA and is set to return the club to its Mexican roots.
"It doesn't have a style and it
has lost its Mexican base," Chelis told Mediotiempo. "Last season, they played without
Mexicans and I imagine that giving the team a Mexican base, we can get to that style of soccer that I like to play. From there, people will come on board, we'll achieve more and from there you begin
to please and give something different from the soccer in that league. It's possible to achieve it and reach many goals."
Chivas USA debuted in 2005 with a nucleus of Mexican players but
it was a bust with a 4-22-6 record. Bob Bradley took over the next season and immediately made it a playoff contender. The 2006 team included such Mexican
players as Claudio Suarez, Juan Francisco Palencia, Francisco Mendoza and Juan Pablo Garcia but also featured young Americans like second-year goalie Brad Guzan and rookies Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein, who have all gone on to have international careers and play abroad.
Chivas USA's best season
came in 2007 when it was Western Conference champions, but after four straight playoff appearances, it has not qualified for the playoffs the last three seasons.
The 2012 team's 7-18-9
record was Chivas USA's worst record since 2005. The team featured three Mexican-Americans but no Mexican nationals. The squad included three Colombians, two Ecuadorans and one player each from
Uruguay and Venezuela.
If he takes over, Chelis says Chivas USA won't play like any other MLS club.
"I believe that in MLS almost all the teams play the same," he said. "The
champion plays the same like all the teams; it's not that you want to improvise, but I don't have the sensibility to do what they do over there. It could be good as far as points and achievements, but
I don't think I have the profile to play that kind of soccer."



Luis Arreola


