Fernando Ortiz “It’s good that this club aims high”
The Azulcremas’ Clausura 2023 continues on Saturday when they face Toluca as a visitor.
América came under heavy criticism from their fans, after playing out a goalless draw against Querétaro in their Clausura 2023 debut. On Saturday, they have the chance to redeem themselves when they face Toluca at Estadio Nemesio Díez in one of the most attractive duels of the day.
Azulcrema coach Fernando Ortiz made it clear that he trusts his team to be at the top of their game in their second outing on the New Year. “The expectations are always high. At a big club like this, the goals and objectives will always be the same, but the expectations of what happened to us last season are still there and surely we will be in the fight for the first places again - and hopefully in a position to be able to crown the season, which we all want so much,” the Argentine coach said.
After digesting his team’s elimination to Toluca in the Apertura 2022, Tano acknowledged that he couldn’t wait for the new tournament to start because he is keen to get revenge. “I wanted to get back to full competition, the anxiety of wanting to be in Coapa to do the work we did in preseason and start the season. We worked very well and we are in very good physical shape and with the same game idea, which is the most important thing,” he continued.
“I live it to the fullest. I don’t allow myself to have the slightest error or a random detail because we all have to know what is required - that’s standard for every professional practice. My enjoyment is coming to Coapa every day, my happiness is arriving at 5:30 am and start planning the day, planning the next game every weekend, knowing that a result changes a lot mentally, but I am already happy being on the field of play directing the biggest club in Mexico”, he added.
The Nemesio Díez stadium is one of the most difficult for América who have not won there since the Apertura 2019 when a solitary goal from Renato Ibarra gave them a slim win. Now, the men from Coapa will be aiming to end that losing streak and begin to position themselves at the top end of the table.