Atlante To Go All Out Against Santos In CCL Semi

Atlante will not hold anything back against Santos in their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series, which begins Wednesday.

Mar 17, 2009 6:13:11 PM

More On :  Atlante
Jose Guadalupe Cruz- Atlante (Mexsport)
After losing to Pumas at Ciudad Universitario, Jose Guadalupe Cruz and his pupils are hoping for a categorical victory against Santos at Torreon in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. Considering the distance from Cancun to Torreon, Cruz decided to keep his players in Mexico City to prepare for the game that can make its fans forget los Potros' inconsistent Clausura 2009.
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Atlante stands at the bottom of the standings in the Clausura, where they are 14th place.

Cruz, who was interviewed after a training session in Cruz Azul's stadium Estadio Azul, stated: “Against Santos it's in our interest to get a good result, that's why we are putting the best that we have in the first leg game because we don't want to give nothing away. I could easily opt for putting a bunch of youngsters and wait for Puebla (who they will face this weekend), but I think it's the appropriate time to play our best in both tournaments until mathematics play against us.  We want goals and we're going to look for them at Torreon."      

Cruz's team has been one of the tournament's main protagonists, for they have not lost a single game. They played an excellent quarterfinal round against one of MLS's elite, Houston Dynamo, by beating them 3-1 after tying 1-1 in Houston, and winning in Cancun 3-0. Without a doubt, Santos are seen as the favorite because they have been in a much competitive level in the last months, but people can't forget that Atlante was the Mexican League champion in 2007, and they were coached by Jose Guadalupe Cruz.


For Atlante, it's unfortunate that a player like Giancarlo Maldonado has hit a deep batch in the past months.  The Venezuelan international would be of huge benefit to Cruz's squad, who in the last games has been benefited by Luis Gabriel Rey's rebirth.  The midfield continues to be stabilized by Christian “El Hobbit” Bermudez and Gabriel “El Mistico” Pereyra, but will be without Federico Vilar, the resplendent goalie of the Argentinean team.  Atlante know they have home field advantage and will be well aware of any little mistake Guzman's pupils commit in Torreon.

Nayib Morán, Goal.com
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