Vuoso: CCL Is All Santos Have To Play For

Santos have virtually no chance at reaching the Ligiulla, and will throw everything they have towards getting a positive result and heading to the CONCACAF Champions League final.

Apr 8, 2009 3:00:41 AM

More On :  Santos Laguna
Matias Vuoso- Santos Laguna (Mexsport)
Santos have had an up-and-down 2009. Having reached the semifinals in the Apertura 2008 season, Santos had quite a bit of promise before the year started. But a poor start to the Clausura 2009 season lingered.

Still, Santos did well in the CONCACAF Champions League, and survived a dramatic quarterfinal series against Montreal.
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Now, the latter is all they have to fight for.

"To be honest, that's all we have left," Vuoso said. "We know the Liguilla is very far away and we're going to fight for that, but obviously we know we are closer to the (CONCACAF Champions League) title."

The Clausura season has fallen apart for Santos. Mired in fourth place in Group 1, the only thing that says Santos have a shot is the percentages. Mathematically, Santos are still alive but the club would need a major miracle to see that path through. Already, manager Daniel Guzman has been removed and replaced by Sergio Bueno, who will manage the club in his first international encounter.

Under Guzman, Santos beat Atlante 2-1 in the first leg of the semifinal series. The one-goal edge is on the minds of Santos players.

"We know we have an advantage, a very small one, but it's an advantage nonetheless," Vuoso said. "We need to protect it, not just drop everything back, but to go out and do things right."


What matters most to the players is their ability to claim an important trophy for the club. While Santos have enjoyed domestic trophies and action in Copa Libertadores, an international trophy is needed to add to the club's mantle.

"This is about getting our first international championship," said Vuoso, who played with America during their 2006 World Club Championship participation. "It would be a beautiful thing to be able to go to the Club World Cup. I believe those are things not just any player can live through. It would be a great thing to re-live that and more so because it would be with a club I love so much."

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