Concacaf Champions Cup

LAFC’s Dos Santos takes a shot at Toluca’s Mohamed after elimination: “A clown, you need to have class”

Tempers flared after Toluca’s dominant Concachampions win over LAFC, with Marc Dos Santos unloading on Antonio Mohamed postgame.

Tempers flared after Toluca’s dominant Concachampions win over LAFC, with Marc Dos Santos unloading on Antonio Mohamed postgame.
MARIO VAZQUEZ

Toluca’s Red Devils punched their ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup final in emphatic fashion Wednesday night, crushing LAFC 4-0 at Estadio Nemesio Díez. But the fireworks did not end with the final whistle.

Tensions boiled over after the game when LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos publicly ripped Toluca manager Antonio Mohamed, calling him a “clown” over the celebrations following the Mexican side’s fourth goal.

The lopsided defeat clearly left the MLS club furious, especially after Mohamed celebrated directly in front of LAFC’s bench late in the match.

LAFC’s Dos Santos takes a shot at Toluca’s Mohamed after elimination: “A clown, you need to have class”
It was all smiles between Mohamed and Dos Santos before the match.Eloisa Sanchez

“You have to know how to win”

Speaking during his postgame press conference, Dos Santos said he believed in showing class both in victory and defeat before launching into a stinging criticism of Toluca’s experienced coach.

“I want to start by saying that mentally, I come from a different place,” Dos Santos said. “I have class as a person. I know how to win and how to lose. I want to wish Mister Mohamed and Toluca good luck in the final, but in the end they acted like clowns on the bench.”

You need to have class because the world turns quickly, and he’s older than me. What he did after the game was clown behavior, a complete circus act.”

The heated remarks added another layer of drama to an already emotional Concacaf semifinal between Liga MX and MLS opposition, a rivalry that continues to grow more intense every year.

LAFC coach compares Toluca atmosphere to Disneyland

Despite his frustration, Dos Santos had nothing but praise for Toluca’s home stadium and its fans, who created one of the loudest atmospheres LAFC has faced this season.

“I heard this place was supposed to be hell,” Dos Santos said with a smile. “I’m Christian, so I have a different idea of what hell is. This place is like Disneyland for soccer. It’s incredible.”

“If you love soccer, you want to be here. It’s nothing like hell, not even close. It’s a fantastic atmosphere, fantastic fans. They’re like an extra player for the team, and now I understand why Toluca is so strong at home.”

The victory sends Toluca to the Concacaf Champions Cup final in dominant fashion, while LAFC leaves Mexico frustrated after one of the club’s toughest nights in international competition.

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