Cruz Azul head coach Joel Huiqui has made the team's priority clear ahead of the Campeones Cup final. The Sky Blues will face Inter Miami on US soil with their sights set on the trophy, not the figure of Lionel Messi.
The team arrived in Miami just 24 hours before the decisive match, overcoming a logistical ordeal. Huiqui explained that the squad rested well in Mexico before the trip and has already moved past the setback, showing total commitment. "It's unnecessary to talk about him, but I'm more interested in what the team is playing for, it's more than a title, it's our consecration as an institution," the coach declared about the media focus on the Argentine star.
The plan against a heavyweight rival
Huiqui acknowledged Messi's quality but insisted the key lies in their own performance. "Lionel Messi is a great player, we all know who he is in football." he stated. The strategist also warned that Inter Miami has other dangerous players, so giving the proper importance to the opponent as a whole is key. Facing a figure of such magnitude he described as an opportunity, but what is at stake for Cruz Azul transcends one man.
The team arrives at this continental appointment in great form in Liga MX, where they sit fourth with 15 points after eight matchdays. Their run of four consecutive wins, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over América last week, is their best credential. Now the goal is to transfer that confidence to tomorrow's match. After the final, attention will return to the domestic championship, where a visit to Monterrey awaits on September 20. The winning mentality Huiqui seeks is the same one that has seen them take 12 points from the last 15 available.
Further reading: Record MX
