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Lozano Confident In Cruz Azul's Resiliency
Cruz Azul have overcome plenty of obstacles along their path to the Apertura 2009 final and that resiliency will come in handy on Sunday, midfielder Jaime Lozano said.
Dec 12, 2009 11:38:23 PM
Now that the club faces an adverse situation, players said they are confident in their ability to get out of difficult predicaments.
"Everyone is focused on what we need to do," Jaime Lozano said in a press conference. "We've gotten through tough situations before, throughout the season, and we'll have chances."
Cruz Azul need a win to have a chance of glory. A one-goal victory over Monterrey will send the match to extra time and possibly penalty kicks. A win by two or more goals will give Cruz Azul their first championship since the Invierno '97 season.
While the long-suffering Azul faithful might be disappointed with Thursday's match, Lozano said he hoped the fans would be behind them on Sunday.
"To support us and have faith in us," he said, when asked about the fans.
Whatever happened on Thursday, Lozano said the team is now focused only on the task at hand.
"We've recovered 100 percent," Lozano said. "This is the last game, the final 90 minutes that will decide the champion and after a season long of effort, of concentration, of many things that happened to us, we deserve to be in the final once more."
Cruz Azul have shown their ability to overcome adversity. In the Apertura 2008 final, Toluca won by two goals in Estadio Azul and returned home to close out the series. And while los Diablos eventually beat Cruz Azul to win the league championship, it was not as cut-and-dry as first thought.
"In Toluca, everyone gave us up for dead," he recalled. "We were down by two goals, we came back and went all the way to penalties. That's great and while it didn't work out, everyone thought we were dead and the team showed character and makeup of a great club and (Sunday) we'll be within one goal and will have 90 minutes."
Cruz Azul have now disputed three of the last four finals, and Lozano said at some point history will smile on Cruz Azul.
"Few teams have gotten to three finales and few teams have lost two consecutive finals," Lozano said. "We have to be on the positive side of history."
Goal.com
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