Sergi Palencia: “We are starting to see that MLS is the stronger league”
The Los Angeles Fútbol Club defender offered his point of view on the Leagues Cup with many Liga MX advocators complaining about unfair home advantage.
The Leagues Cup is in its final stretch as we reach the quarter final stages of the competition with the overall verdict among players and fans generally being positive. With just eight sides remaining in the tournament (six from MLS and two Liga MX outfits), the semifinal pairings will be resolved after the four games on Friday.
However, from the outset of the tournament, Liga MX teams have complained about the long trips they have endured (the entire competition is being staged in US/Canada) and the fact that they cannot return to Mexico until they are eliminated. This clearly favours MLS sides and testament to this is the makeup of the quarter finalists with just two Mexican sides still in contention in Monterrey and Queretaro.
LAFC’s Palencia on the competition
After eliminating Real Salt Lake 4-0 on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium in the Round of 16, LAFC player Sergi Palencia spoke about the controversy that has been generated by Liga MX clubs. The Los Angeles side secured a bye into the Round of 32 where the despatched Bravos de Juárez with a resounding 7-1 rout and the ‘Black and Gold’ remain among the favourites to win the title.
“I am going to give my opinion from the point of view that we [LAFC] have not traveled”, Palencia began by saying after the game. “We have played both games at home and I can understand that there is controversy over travel. But I personally love it. Imagine that in Europe they held this tournament with the Spanish and French or Italian or English leagues. We would all like to see it. I love competing against Mexican teams and it creates good rivalries for everyone”.
“These competitions are positive. It is a bit too soon to see which league is better and but we are starting to see signs already. It is a good challenge for all teams to represent their league and obviously we want ours to be the best. I think that in future editions we will see that we will travel to Mexico and I will be delighted to go there and play”.