Gustavo Leal’s plan for Atlético San Luis to make the Liguilla

Atlético San Luis are potential candidates for the final phase of the 2024 Clausura and head coach Gustavo Leal has drawn up a strategy for the team’s final five games of the regular season. The Liga MX resumes this weekend following the international break and San Luis start the action on Friday with a tough trip to the Azteca to face América.

“One thing I learned from the time I have been in the Liga MX, is that it’s not how you start the tournament, but how you close it. That’s what we are focused on now - to conclude the regular phase as best as we can and give joy to our fans by getting Atlético de San Luis into the Liguilla,” the coah explained in an interview with TUDN.

Decisive part of the campaign

The Potosí team currently sit 13th, just outside the playoff places - but only just. They are just one point behind Santos Laguna in a tightly-packed section with eight point separating Pachuca in fifth to the final berth. San Luis are confident that they can qualify for the Liguilla, and the coach has already spoken with all of his players to maintain enthusiasm and motivation for these final few games of the regular tournament.

“Whatever I say to the lads, nothing can take away our desire to be among the top 10 teams, to be in the great celebration of Mexican soccer. It’s something that I personally set as a goal. The idea is always to be there, in the playoffs - of the four tournaments that I have been in, I’ve only missed one. I want to be in this tournament and in all of the future ones while I am in Mexico,” Leal explained.

“We have five games left, five very tough games, but in the last tournament we ended on 23 points. We know it won’t be easy, but if we win three, we will be on 22 - one less than last time. We think 22 should be enough to get into the Play-in and from there it’s another tournament,” he concluded.

Right now, Atlético de San Luis has 13 points, only three below Chivas, the team in tenth in the general table. However, the team’s schedule looks a complicated - after América, Leal’s team will face Juárez, Atlas, Toluca and Santos Laguna.