The 3 Players To Watch In The LigaMX Guard1anes 2020 Tournament
Liga MX has resumed play once again in 2020 after 4 months due to the worldwide pandemic. This season is set to be named “2020 Guar1danes” after first responders and health care workers assisting their communities.
There are a number of changes scheduled for league play including 5 substitutions for each team per game. There will also be 12 teams qualifying into the “Liguilla” where the top 4 seeds automatically qualify to the quarterfinals stage and seeds 5-12 will be playing a single-elimination round to determine the next 4 teams.
This season will be unlike any other we’ve seen before, with no fans allowed in stadiums and the worldwide pandemic still ravaging through Mexico. Next, we’re going to see the 3 players you should be keeping your eyes on for the 2020 Guard1anes tournament.
Honorable mention:
Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres) – Scoring more than 150 goals since setting foot in Monterrey, Gignac has been Liga MX’s best player since his arrival in 2015. The French striker scored this season’s first goal and ended up with 2 goals against Necaxa. Only Oribe Peralta bests Gignac in total current goal scorers in the Mexican league.
Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey): “El Charly” was part of Monterrey’s inexplicable 2020 season. Monterrey was a shell of their former 2019 self finishing as one of the worst teams of the season.
Carlos Rodriguez has been a bright spot for Los Rayados and if he continues to improve and showcase his potential, his move to Europe will be inevitable. During the 2019 Club World Cup, Rodriguez controlled the ball against Liverpool, arguably the best team in Europe at the time.
Jonathan Rodriguez (Cruz Azul): The Uruguayan Jonathan Rodriguez scored 9 goals during the Liga MX 2020 Clausura tournament and this feat has sparked interest in clubs in Europe such as PSV from Holland and Bologna from Serie A. He was a key figure in the GNP Tournament that Cruz Azul won and will be looking to keep his momentum going during regular season play.
Jose Juan Macias (Chivas)
Everyone knows that Jose Juan Macias is ready to hop across the pond and try his luck in Europe. The key question at the moment is when? Macias has been previously linked to Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga. Inside Borussia Dortmund on Amazon provided Mexican fans a glimpse into the scouting that Dortmund have been doing on Macias.
The Mexican international has scored four goals in five matches for Mexico and had scored four goals in nine games before the Clausura Tournament was canceled. Numerous reports have Borussia Dortmund still interested but now, due to the pandemic, at a much lower price. Macias represents Mexico’s future and if he were to transfer during the winter transfer season these next games might be the last opportunity to catch Macias in Mexican soil.
Luis “Chapito” Montes (Leon)
The 34-year old midfielder’s best days look like to be behind him. But this does not mean that “Chapito” is not a key piece in the Nacho Ambriz’s offense and something opposing defenses should plan against. Leon has been contenders in several of the last tournaments, even taking part in the longest winning streak in Liga MX history by winning 12 consecutive matches in 2019.
No other current Mexican player exhibits the number “10” quality that Montes displays in the field. Poise, vision, and pinpoint accuracy on the pitch and hopefully he can continue to display those qualities for at least a few more years.
Sebastian Cordova (America)
Cordova made his Liga MX debut while on loan with Necaxa in 2018 and returned to America for the Clausura 2019. The 23-year-old Aguascalientes native has become an integral part of an America team that has had numerous key pieces of their 2018 championship team leave. Cordova has also impressed while on national team duty exhibiting his prowess with long-range shots, dribbling, and provided key passes for teammates.
America Head Coach Miguel Herrera has stated that he would prefer for Cordova to have more experience under his belt before he moves on. Most likely to prevent a repeat of the Deigo Lainez’s situation in Spain. But with rumored suitors such as Manchester United, Benfica, and Real Betis, Herrera may not be able to keep Cordova in “El Nido” for much longer.
