By Luis Bueno – Carson, CA (Oct 8, 2014) US Soccer Players – When Chivas Guadalajara last lived up to their stature and history and were truly a powerhouse club in Mexico, the De La Torre brothers were in charge. Nestor De La Torre served as club president in the middle of the last decade while younger brother Jose Manuel was coach. Chivas were regulars not only in the playoffs but Copa Libertadores as well.
Chivas challenged for titles. Talent was abundant. Supporters packed the stadium. Life was swell in Guadalajara.
It is with some of that thinking then that Chivas turn back to the De La Torre family when the club is in total disarray. Chivas have become a laughingstock south of the border as the turnover both on the touchline and in the front office makes even the most casual supporters’ head spin.
Faced with the reality of relegation, Chivas’ challenges are different now. Bringing in Nestor and Jose Manuel De La Torre is not simply another attempt at reviving this club but rather the final attempt. If this partnership fails, Chivas are doomed and will not avoid the embarrassment of relegation.
If the De La Torre brothers cannot save Chivas, nobody can.
While Jose Manuel “Chepo” De La Torre has faced many challenges in his managerial career, this is undoubtedly his greatest one. Chivas are a club in complete disarray. In rather quick and abominable fashion, Chivas have fallen behind Atlas as the top club in Guadalajara. The same Atlas side that not too long ago could not win a league match. Atlas’ 1-0 win over Chivas on Sunday was a disaster on all levels, but worst was that the result was not unexpected.
It’s that loser’s mentality that hovers over the club that De La Torre must change. His task is not to return Chivas to the glory days and not even to get the club to be a playoff contender but rather to keep the team in the first division.
The plan the De La Torre brothers have in place will require a bit of patience. True change will not come until after this season, when the team will presumably overhaul the roster. With players that fit his preferred style, Chepo will be able to approach the following campaign with more confidence. But he cannot afford to throw away results now. Chivas sit fourth from the bottom in the relegation table but that is a fluid position. Wins by Puebla and Veracruz combined with a Chivas loss next time out and Chivas would suddenly be second from the bottom.
Under these circumstances, Chepo’s original ouster from Chivas seems even more farcical now than it was then. Chepo took over at Guadalajara in March 2006. The following season, he led Chivas to their 11th championship and first since 1997. However, De La Torre was unable to successfully defend the championship the following season and by September 2007 he had worn out his welcome and was sacked.
The firing was easily one of club owner Jorge Vergara’s worst decisions. De La Torre was not the problem. His career only continued to grow after his firing as he moved to Toluca and led los Diablos Rojos to a pair of championships before moving on to take over the Mexican National Team.
De La Torre’s tenure as Mexico head coach did not end well despite a promising beginning but his resume is still rather impressive. Vergara meanwhile was never able to adequately replace De La Torre as his moves became more and more desperate.
De La Torre is easily the best candidate to take over at Chivas, with his history as not only manager of the club but as a player with el Rebano. But if the return of respected and experienced individuals does not work, then the only way the club’s culture can change would be to have another owner.
For the sake of the club’s history and tradition, getting Vergara far away from Chivas would be a necessity.
Luis Bueno is a veteran soccer writer. Follow him on twitter @BuenoSoccer.
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