“No longer exists”: Coach Jardine closes a Club América chapter
Speaking to the media ahead of América’s next Liga MX clash, Águilas boss André Jardine said the club must move on from its three-peat era.
Alarm bells continue to ring at Club América after a worrying opening third of the Clausura 2026 tournament. Las Águilas sit in 10th place in the regular-season standings, with only three goals scored - the club’s lowest ever total at this stage of a Liga MX short tournament.
Talk of a crisis has only grown louder after a disastrous 2025 in which América failed to win anything, domestically or internationally, an especially harsh contrast considering the team entered the calendar year riding an unprecedented Mexican‑league three‑peat.
Against this backdrop, head coach André Jardine - the architect of América’s golden era - spoke to the media ahead of the team’s visit to Puebla on Clausura matchday seven. One of the most striking talking points: the internal “restructuring” and the need to stop living in the past.
Three‑peat core “no longer exists”
“Soccer runs in cycles,” Jardine told reporters. “Good performances come from cycles that mature along with a team built to become champion. This group went through an important stretch with players who are no longer here.
“Mentioning Diego Valdés, [Álvaro] Fidalgo, [Brian] ‘Cabecita’ [Rodríguez] and others wouldn’t be fair without naming them all… But that group, the one that formed the backbone of the three‑peat, no longer exists. When many players leave, new groups form with new leaders, new dynamics, and we’re in the toughest phase - finding a new América.”
Jardine’s arrival and record run
Jardine arrived in Liga MX with Atlético San Luis in early 2022, and after just over a year with the Tuneros, he took over América in June 2023, amid heavy skepticism. Those doubts quickly flipped into the most successful chapter in club history: three league titles, a Campeón de Campeones trophy, a Supercopa MX and a Campeones Cup - the most hardware won by a single head coach in the history of Mexico’s winningest club.
When is Puebla vs América?
América faces Puebla on Friday, Feb. 20, with kickoff at Estadio Cuauhtémoc scheduled for 10:06 p.m. ET/7:06 p.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on TUDN USA and ViX. You can also stream the Clausura clash on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
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