“Larcamón out!” - Cruz Azul coach’s Celeste calamities
After a string of failures - the latest of which came in the CONCACAF Champions Cup - the crisis klaxon is sounding at Cruz Azul.
Cruz Azul’s present is far from ideal. Their CONCACAF Champions Cup elimination at the hands of Los Angeles FC sparked a fierce backlash from the fanbase, which is quickly running out of patience with the current project.
From the stands at Estadio Cuauhtémoc, after the 1-1 draw that sealed their exit, the chant of “Larcamón out!” rang out loudly. Hundreds of supporters joined in a clear protest aimed at head coach Nicolás Larcamón.
Cruz Azul’s slump in the Clausura 2026
The result in Puebla didn’t just mean elimination from international competition - it also left a bitter taste due to the team’s poor overall performance. La Máquina never truly looked competitive over the two-legged series, a reality that only inflamed tensions in the stands.
Although Cruz Azul opened the Liga MX Clausura 2026 with promise, their level has steadily declined. They currently sit in the upper part of the table, but have not won since March 7, racking up draws against Pumas, Mazatlán, and América, along with a defeat to Pachuca.
A tenure defined by repeated failures
Larcamón’s tenure has now suffered several major blows. The first was a brutal 7-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the 2025 Leagues Cup, followed by a semifinal elimination against Tigres in the Apertura 2025.
The third setback came in the Intercontinental Cup, where Cruz Azul fell 2-1 to Flamengo. Now, this Concachampions exit marks the fourth failure, deepening the sporting crisis and piling even more pressure on the coaching staff.
Liga MX: the last hope
With international ambitions officially over, Liga MX is the only remaining path to salvaging the season. The margin for error is virtually nonexistent, and the team must respond immediately if it hopes to contend for the title.
What was optimism a year ago has turned into uncertainty. The Celeste faithful are increasingly questioning whether Larcamón’s style is truly suited to restoring the club’s stature, especially in moments of maximum pressure.
A shaken locker room full of doubts
The situation is further complicated by key absences, such as Nicolás Ibáñez’s injury and Gonzalo Piovi’s red card. Larcamón will be forced to reshuffle his squad and rebuild confidence within the group during a decisive stretch of the tournament - one where there is simply no room left for mistakes.
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