Morelia Confident Club Won't Repeat Effort

Morelia fell to Santos Laguna 2-1 in the first leg of their quarterfinal series but vowed a different effort in the return leg.

Tomas Boy- Morelia (Mexsport)
Morelia had a strong season, finishing third in the overall table this season and earned a berth to Copa Libertadores in the process.

But all that could come to a crashing halt on Sunday when Morelia host Santos. And all the work they've done this season could go vanish, and the damage may already have been done.

Santos' 2-1 win over Morelia in the first leg gives the visitors an advantage when Santos plays at Morelia on Sunday. A draw will send Santos through to the semifinals.

Morelia manager Tomas Boy said he is confident the return leg will be different.

"This game is different," Boy said in a press conference. "We'll give everything we have. Our team has to show and prove that it does want more in this Liguilla. I believe quite a bit in what we are doing and without a doubt we'll do enough to come out ahead."

Estadio Morelos will provide a boost but Boy said his team won't exactly rely on the site to help their game.

"In a Liguilla, hosting a game means a great deal," Boy said. "Here I believe the team played a great game, very disciplined (at Santos) but we weren't sharp."

Morelia struggled to keep Santos from scoring in the first leg but that didn't unsettle the team nor the manager.


"I wasn't angry, just anxious," Boy said. "I wanted to see my team see their work through, the work they've done all season long."

While the series is in Santos' favor, neither team enters the match as a clear favorite to get past the quarterfinal round, nor will Morelia play the same type of game twice in a row.

"Anything can happen. What I don't think is that we'll come out to defend," Boy said. "We're going to play them toe-to-toe. We would have liked to have been more commanding with them but we won't repeat the same performance."

Goal.com


For more coverage of the Mexican Primera Division, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.

Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction

    With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?

  2. ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment

    Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.

  3. VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word

    "Any time you tweet, it's a mini press conference," says Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson.

  4. ISOLA: Roma's De Rossi smart to remain with one club for career ISOLA: Roma's De Rossi smart to remain with one club for career

    De Rossi has a chance to build a lasting legacy at Roma similar to NBA veterans Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, who have never switched teams.

  5. RANKINGS: Torres breaks into the top 10 as Altidore drops out RANKINGS: Torres breaks into the top 10 as Altidore drops out

    The Pachuca midfielder is back on form, and with many of the USA's top players struggling, he breaks into the top 10.

 
Advertisement
Advertisement