César DelgadoGetty Images
Alejandro Orellana

'Cruz Azul can win the title' - César 'Chelito' Delgado hopes La Máquina can put an end to Club América's dominance

The former player spoke exclusively with GOAL about Cruz Azul's hopes in the Clausura 2025

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  • Cruz Azul is currently in fifth place in the Clausura 2025

  • La Máquina has not won the Liga MX title since 2021

  • Vicente Sánchez took over as coach after Martín Anselmi left

  • César Delgado Evento Ligue 1 CDMX@GOAL

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Cruz Azul and América will face each other three times in a span of 12 days in April. Both teams will meet in the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup and on Matchday 15 of the Clausura 2025. César Delgado, a club legend, assured that Vicente Sánchez's team has the necessary players to defeat Andre Jardine's side in this elimination.

    "Cruz Azul has a chance for redemption to turn the situation around, by potentially defeating América in a moment of this elimination stage", Delgado said to GOAL. "I see them very well. There was a change of coach due to some issues, but always with the best expectation that Cruz Azul can win the title."

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  • Vicente Sánchez Cruz Azul Clausura 2025 Liga MXGetty Images

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Cruz Azul want revenge against América, following some recent disappointments. In 2024, the Águilas got the better of La Máquina twice - winning the Clausura Final and knocking them out in the Apertura semifinals. With another chapter in the rivalry just weeks away, Delgado weighed in on the intense clash between the two Mexico City clubs. Cruz Azul hasn’t won a championship since their Guard1anes 2021 victory over Santos Laguna, but with Vicente Sánchez now at the helm following Martín Anselmi’s sudden departure to Porto, they’ll be aiming to end the drought.

  • César Delgado

    DID YOU KNOW?

    César Delgado played 154 matches with Cruz Azul, scoring 62 goals. From his arrival in the Apertura 2003 until his departure to Olympique Lyon in 2008, "Chelito" became a Cruz Azul legend, though he was never able to win a Liga MX title with the club. Due to his great performance with the Celestes, the player earned a call-up to the Argentina national team to participate in the 2004 Olympic Games, where his country won the gold medal in Athens.

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL?

    Before América and Cruz Azul's upcoming clashes, La Máquina will face Chivas on March 29 in Matchday 13 of the Clausura 2025. The match will be played behind closed doors due to a suspension given to the Estadio Akron for violence in the stands. Vicente Sánchez's team is currently in fifth place with 22 points.

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