LIGA MX
Armando Navarrete: Club América vs Cruz Azul is a Liga MX ‘Clásico’
The former Águilas goalkeeper says the rivalry with La Máquina is one of the biggest in Mexico and should be recognised as such.
Current Club América manager Fernando Ortiz doesn’t think so but former player Armando Navarrete has no doubts: América against Cruz Azul should be officially recognised as one of Liga MX’s ‘Clásicos’. The two teams face off in the Clausura 2023 tournament at Estadio Azteca on Saturday and ex-Águilas goalkeeper Navarrete, who took on La Máquina several times in his five years at the club, has sought to play up the clash between two of Mexico City’s biggest sides.
One of Mexico’s stand-out games
For Navarrete, it’s one of Mexican soccer’s stand-out fixtures, in which bragging rights in the capital are on the line. As a youngster, clashes between the two sides shown on television captured his imagination, with the likes of François Oman-Biyik, Kalusha Bwalya and Adrián Chávez starring for Las Águilas, lining up against Norberto Scoponi, Julio Zamora, Carlos Hermosillo and José Luis Sixtos, amongst others, for Los Celestes.
“When I played for América, we always called it a capital ‘Clásico’, because of previous matches and the history between the two clubs. Obviously, there is the Súper Clásico with Chivas and the other capital ‘Clásico’ between Cruz Azul and Pumas. But it’s always important to be aware of the magnitude of the game”, he stated.
Forme América goalkeeper Armando Navarrete speaks to AS Mexico
In an interview with AS Mexico, he insisted that the clash was one that the boards of directors and players of both clubs looked out when the fixtures were released because of the huge rivalry that exists between the pair.
“It is very special when you’re in your city. It [the ‘Clásico’ moniker’] implies that the teams from Mexico City, in the case of Pumas and Cruz Azul, are always the biggest teams in Mexico. That’s why the matches are called that way,” Navarrete claimed.
What did playing against Cruz Azul mean to you?
The matches that I played against Cruz Azul were always very good matches, with full stadiums. The occasion gave you added motivation and you have to take on the responsibility that came with that.
Perhaps Cruz Azul vs América should be called a ‘Clásico’ because it is a clash between two of the four so-called biggest clubs in Mexico?
That’s why we need to look back to the post. When I was a boy during the 1990s, I watched ‘Clásicos’ and other games on television. The rivalry was incredible with Biyik, Kalusha, Adrián Chávez on one side, coming up against Hermosillo, Sixtos, Scoponi on the other. They were all great players. After that, I was lucky enough to play against ‘Conejo’ [ex-Cruz Azul goalkeeper Óscar Pérez].
Is it a stressful fixture for players?
When you play for América, there is always pressure. Everyone always plays to win against América, especially in a capital ‘Clásico’ like the one coming up on Saturday.
Is there added spice surrounding this particular meeting because of the 7-0 defeat Cruz Azul suffered in the Apertura 2022 tournament?
When you have suffered a record defeat, there is more pressure on Cruz Azul to ensure there isn’t a similar result. And more pressure on América to win again.
Were you a Club América fan from birth?
Yes, that’s why I remember all those players that have played for the club over the last few decades.