Alejandro Zendejas started for Club America in a 1-1 tie with Mexico City rival Cruz Azul in the first leg of the Liga MX’s Torneo Clausura final.
Zendejas’ throw-in started the play that led to Julián Quiñones’ first-half equalizer for America. The 26-year-old Zendejas has nine goals and six assists in 42 games in 2023-24 but was not called up for the USMNT’s June camp.
• Trivia: America already won the Apertura championship last December, putting Zendejas in line to become the second American to win both halves of a Mexican season. Goalkeeper William Yarbrough won the 2013 Apertura and 2014 Clausura with Leon. America will host the second leg of the 2024 Clausura final on Sunday night.
Thank you for posting this Paul. Not calling Alex – big mistake. Ongoing error. Proven producer on the right side – assists and goals. Player that can work out of tight spaces to pass, dribble, possess, shoot. A baller. Our only baller besides Dest on the right side.
Felt that some of his performances with the national team haven’t gone too well but, is too talented to keep off the roster. Think that he was trying too hard to impress. Much rather see him than Aaronsen.
Agreed; So, as a Coach; You have a CLEARLY TALENTED player with Unique Abilities (That NO ONE else in the ENTIRE POOL has) and you need to “Integrate” him into a “Comfort” Zone where he Can be a Contributer to the Team …. SO LET’S JUST LEAVE HIM OUT, INSTEAD OF MAKING HIM #28.!?!?!?
FUBAR.!!!…
GGG 2.o; Making Same Mistakes he Made as Ggg 1.o (He’s Got To Go.!!!)
Gregg is the typical coach who doesn’t know what to do with skilled players. He is severely limited tactically even if his player pool is not. Our players deserve better coaches.
Frank usually says that a new coach won’t make our players better. He is right, but that is not an excuse to play stupid. The best way to get the most effectiveness out of low skills is to make good tactical decisions including positioning and facing and to touch and hold the ball less to reduce the time defenses have to adjust. When touches are a team’s weak point, less is more.
Having 1 or 2 players with the best touch monopolize the ball is too predictable for success at the professional level. Even if you have Messi, he can’t do everything by himself and still be effective.
Generally Agree with Most of your comments…
But, We have all seen Coaching Changes that Result in Players;
PLAYING BETTER… It’s Not that he Changes their Technical Abilities, But a Good Coach can Bring Out the Aspects of a Group of Players, that maybe another Coach can Not.
As for One or Two Player that “Monopolize” the Ball and Make things “Too Predictable” … Give me a Maradona, Cruijff, DeBruyne, Modric, Netzer, Messi on the Ball 90% of the Time and I WILL BE VERY HAPPY;
Watching the Rest of them is BORING, SUCKY Futbol.!!!
We agree. I was talking about effectiveness, not about entertainment. As a spectator, I rather watch an exciting player regardless of who wins. There is a reason I never watched Italian football (except for the great AC Milan team). There is also a reason I only play attacking soccer.
If Sargent and Adams aren’t fit for the 2 friendlies, are they going to be ready for the Copa? Zendajas > BAaronson, and I like BA but he’s not really producing at the moment.
Why was an “Imaginary” Roster Limit of 27 USED.???
Why not Increase to 28.!?!?!?(Why Not 30, 31…. Maloney, Trusty, Slonina, Vazquez)
It’s Really Baffling.???
How Bad a Look is it going to be to the ONE GUY Cut…???
If someone gets Hurt/ or Drops, between Now and Then… Will Ggg Call-In a NEW #27.???(Another Bad Look)
If Zendejas Scores a Hat Trick in the Finale, Will Ggg admit he made a Mistake and Call him IN.???
Why Not Call IN EVERYONE; It’s THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY… Let the CUT Themselves in Practice or Games.
(By the Way… We Should be Taking PKs at the End of the Match … No matter the Score)
Oh, Not to Mention; That having a tTillman, Shaq Moore, and Sean Johnson, ON YOUR COPA AMERICA ROSTER …
IS A BAD LOOK.!!!
As usual, you make great points.
Why would you NOT want to have a Left-Footed Inverted Right-Winger as an Option.???
Fire GGG SOON.!!!
Well America wins, Zendejas makes dribble and pass to stimulate winning the pen that won the game, created most chances, had most dribbles and won most duels. First time I watched this player. Champion again. Confirms what I wrote above and Santi is spot on. Passing over Zendejas makes zero sense, even if you struggle to integrate the player or the player
struggles to integrate – that is the coaches job – to integrate our talent. Interesting. The failure to integrate latino talent from youth to pro to MNT in players and coaches – continues. This – for me – is as big a red flag as what happened to Hugo Chavez. Problem – not solved.