Atlas dreaming of new title conquest

The pre-season stage is underway, but for Atlas, the dreams start now. At their Playa del Carmen base, the squad has been hard at work, with its sights set on the 2023 Apertura. After a 70-year wait, the Zorros tasted glory by winning the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 tournaments, and captain Aldo Rocha is dreaming of more success. He wants another title with the Red and Blacks.

“Actually, we all have dreams,” he explained. “For me personally, it is playing every game, being one of the top favourites to win the league again as well as playing at a high competitive level and making my own contribution to my team mates and to the team. But above all, it’s about the excitement about fighting for important things. It’s up to us, the leaders of the squad, to motivate the team so that they continue dreaming of achieving big things for the team and dreaming of winning championships”.

He stressed, “I think that’s important for the group as a whole. I think we have to set a good objective - something to aim for, for instance finishing in the first four. I would like to always be there fighting and why not, think about winning the championship again. During the pre-season you prepare with that hope in mind, you prepare to load yourself up on mental strength. We do need to get psyched up to fight for important things and above all, get ourselves mentally prepared right from the opening day of the season”.

Hard work will pay off in the long run

Rocha recognized how tough the pre-season can be but says the rewards make it all worthwhile. “Much of it is about readapting at the beginning, getting back into the swing but especially now with the kind of work we are doing which is the basis for the tournament. We are training now to be physically fit, and also mentally strong. I think it helps us a lot, above all, it unites the group, being with our team mates and making the demands clear from this point on,” the midfielder said.

Finally, he shared his excitement about the new Atlas Academy, the training complex where all the categories of the institution will work. “I’m excited about the new project, excited because in reality we are all going to be together from the first team to the youth teams, which is very important. I have always said that it is going to be a leap in quality in every way, so that the players who are in the lower categories continue dreaming of making it to the first team. It’s good that they will be able to spend on the same site. Above all, because this club has always been characterized by having very good homegrown players and I believe that many more promises will emerge, which is very motivating for everyone. So enjoy, help them in what we have to do, and enjoy and make the most of this new Academy, which is going to be first class,” he concluded.