'Chivas is one of the most historic clubs in Mexico' - C.F. Pachuca's manager Guillermo Almada publicly expresses interest in vacant Chivas job

Guillermo Almada, the current head coach of Pachuca, has opened the door to a potential move to Chivas for the Apertura 2025 tournament. As he leads the Tuzos in their Liga MX quarterfinal clash against Club América, Almada acknowledged that managing the Guadalajara side would be a major milestone in his coaching career.

"Chivas is one of the most historic clubs in Mexico. For any coach, taking charge of that institution is something to aspire to,” Almada said in an interview with ESPN, adding fuel to ongoing speculation linking him to the job. While his current deal with Pachuca runs through the summer, Almada revealed that he has already communicated his desire to move on to club executives. Despite the efforts of Grupo Pachuca, led by Jesús Martínez, to convince him to stay, the Uruguayan manager seems set on closing this chapter.

“We’ve shared this journey for some time now, and I’ve spoken with both Jesús and Armando. My focus remains on the team, not on myself,” he said. His comments come at a critical time for Chivas, as the club continues its search for a new coach to lead a rebuild after a turbulent campaign.

Pachuca, under Almada, recently played to a scoreless draw against Club América in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 quarterfinals. They will look to advance to the semifinals in Saturday’s return leg at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, home of the Águilas.

Chivas, meanwhile, are looking for a manager who can steer the club back to the top of Mexican football. Following back-to-back underwhelming tenures from Óscar García and Gerardo Espinoza - neither of whom could lead the team to the playoffs - the club is considering several options. Among the most talked-about candidates are Domènec Torrent, who recently stepped down from Atlético San Luis, and Jaime Lozano, who is currently unattached.

The Uruguayan also spoke candidly about what he believes Chivas has been lacking in recent years. The last time the club lifted a league trophy was in the Clausura 2017 under Matías Almeyda. They haven’t reached a final since Clausura 2023, when they fell short against Tigres under Veljko Paunović.

“What the team needs is belief - they have plenty of quality,” Almada said. “The players have to approach matches with more conviction and freedom. That confidence, that fearlessness, can be developed with the right guidance and consistent work. There’s a lot of raw talent there; it’s just about unlocking it.”

While sporting director Mier and his team continue planning for the Apertura 2025, players have been called to report for preseason on May 21. Starting in late July, Chivas will compete in the Leagues Cup, where they share a group with the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati, and Charlotte FC.