Chivas' Manager Sees Room For Improvement

Chivas won 3-1 in their opening game of the Bicentenario 2010, but that does not mean that manager Jose Luis Real is satisfied with the performance of the team. Although the team gained all three points against Toluca, Real admits that Chivas may not play the same although they will try to repeat their performance against other rivals.  

According to Real Chivas will hold up their end of the bargain by trying to keep their performances the same, although it is not something that can be set in stone because of the difference in the rivals they will face.  

“Guadalajara has always had the obligation of playing well and winning, and that will be the aspiration every game. The opposition is what changes. We could have had more or less opportunities against Toluca, and we can have more or less opportunities with whatever rival. So you can’t be set in saying that it will be exactly the same because rivals change, the circumstances change, many things [change]. What we’re responsible for,  we’ll try to not change. What doesn’t depend on us, that’s where we’ll have to come up with an answer,”  said Real in a press conference Tuesday.  

In the Apertura 2009 Chivas experienced some trouble in the defense letting in 29 goals, but Real thought the defense worked well in the game against Toluca.  

“It seems to me that the defense was good in general. I repeat, it was more or less because of the quality and difficulty it represents to go up against [Carlos] Esquivel, against [Hector] Mancilla, against Calderon. I think that defensively we played a good game with things to improve, but in general it was a complete game,” added the manager.  

Jose Luis Real also noted that there were times when individual players stood out against others, but credited the group work of Chivas.”  

“It was good work on all the lines; individually and in a group because at times some players would stand out, but even then they never stopped working as a group; they each had to do that for the benefit of the team. It was exciting; I didn’t realize the first goal [had been scored]. The truth is I sat thinking that ‘Chicharo’ could have passed to [Omar] Bravo, and I sat and the people started to celebrate, it was something circumstantial.” 

The success in the first game is in no way satisfying for Real who claims that satisfaction will come from long term success.  

“The substitute players were a key part to do it. I was excited, and I liked it. [I’m] excited but in no way satisfied because to be satisfied we have to get to the final of the tournament."

Andrea Martinez, Goal.com

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