'We had ambitions for much more' - Monterrey, head coach Martín Demichelis part ways after dramatic Liguilla elimination

Rayados de Monterrey announced the departure of Martín Demichelis as head coach Sunday after their Clausura 2025 title hopes were dashed in a dramatic quarterfinal elimination at the hands of Toluca.

Despite entering the second leg with a 3-2 advantage, the northern side fell 2-1 at Estadio Nemesio Diez, resulting in a 4-4 aggregate draw. Toluca advanced due to their superior position in the regular-season standings, having finished as league leaders.

The early playoff exit had intensified scrutiny on Demichelis. Tensions were fueled by a public dispute with star midfielder Sergio Canales and growing speculation about his future. After the defeat on Saturday night, the Argentine manager expressed deep disappointment.

"I'm very sorry. We played a great first leg in Monterrey - it could’ve been 4-1, but we only got a minimal lead,” said Demichelis. “This is incredibly painful for the fans and for the club. We had ambitions for much more. I want to stay, but that decision is not in my hands - it’s up to the board."

The former River Plate boss insisted his team didn’t play poorly in the second leg and attributed their elimination partly to bad luck. He highlighted a key missed chance in the dying moments that could’ve changed the outcome.

“If Guzmán had scored in that last play, everything would be different. That’s football,” he said.

With this, the Argentine bids farewell to Rayados after overseeing 43 matches, in which he recorded 20 wins, 11 draws, and 12 losses. This season will be remembered for several disappointments, including a Round of 16 exit in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a seventh-place finish in the Clausura 2025 standings, and a quarterfinal elimination in the Liguilla.

Monterrey’s elimination was compounded by the continued absence of veteran defender Sergio Ramos, who missed the entire Liguilla due to injury. Ramos endured a turbulent debut season in Liga MX - joining the team late, receiving a red card against Pumas on Matchday 12, scoring three goals, and ultimately suffering an injury in the final week of the regular season.

He is expected to return for the FIFA Club World Cup, capping off a season of highs and lows for the Spanish legend.

The defeat ultimately led to the dismissal of Demichelis, made official on Sunday through a club statement - a decision that came as little surprise given the controversies and internal tensions that surrounded the team in recent months.

Toluca's head coach shared his thoughts after a dramatic comeback victory that secured the club’s place in the Clausura 2025 semifinals. Despite being virtually eliminated for much of the second leg, the Diablos Rojos turned the tide to knock out Monterrey on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate score.

“The quarterfinal is behind us - we’re in the semifinals now,” said the Toluca manager. “It’s time to enjoy this with everyone in the institution. The people at the club truly deserve it; they’ve been doing things the right way behind the scenes. We’re here to contribute with our experience and want to keep pushing forward.”

Confident in his squad’s potential, he added, “We believe we have the roster and the energy to reach the final.”

Rayados must turn their focus to the upcoming Club World Cup, as sporting director José Antonio Noriega begins the search for a new head coach.

Drawn into Group E alongside River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Inter Milan, Monterrey will kick off their tournament campaign on June 17 against the Italian side.