'We're excited about the double' - Cruz Azul’s Vicente Sánchez celebrates victory over Tigres, looks ahead to Liga MX playoffs and CONCACAF Final

Cruz Azul secured their place in the final of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup after edging Tigres UANL with a 2–1 aggregate win in the semifinals. The victory sets up a highly anticipated final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, scheduled for June 1 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.

Los Celestes will aim to claim their seventh CONCACAF title — a feat that would tie them with Club América as the tournament’s most decorated team. On the other side, the Whitecaps are chasing history of their own, hoping to become the first Canadian team — and just the fourth MLS club — to lift the trophy.

After the semifinal win, Cruz Azul head coach Vicente Sánchez expressed pride in his team’s performance, stressing that results like these reflect the high expectations surrounding the club.

“I’m happy — this is the standard at Cruz Azul,” Sánchez said in his post-match press conference. “We fought hard in every tournament and showed the hunger to win. Tonight, we celebrate, but tomorrow our focus shifts back to the league. We're excited about the double.”

Sánchez also praised Tigres and head coach Guido Pizarro for the fierce semifinal matchup. “Full respect to the opposing coach. It was a great tie — we knew it would be — and I’m glad we could deliver this joy to our fans. They always make themselves heard.”

The win, however, came at a cost. Striker Gabriel Fernández was forced off before halftime with what appeared to be a serious injury. Visibly emotional on the bench, Fernández’s status remains uncertain.

“We’ll know more tomorrow after speaking with the medical staff,” Sánchez said. “We’re hoping it’s nothing too serious. But our focus remains on working hard every day to achieve our goals.”

While the win was celebrated by Cruz Azul fans, the team’s performance drew mixed reviews from Mexican media. On ESPN’s Futbol Picante, analyst and former player Rafael Puente voiced doubts about Cruz Azul’s chances in the final.

“If Cruz Azul doesn’t improve, I don’t see them as favorites over Vancouver,” said Puente, echoed by fellow analyst Paco Gabriel de Anda: “Vancouver is the best team in MLS right now — I wouldn’t call Cruz Azul the favorite either.”

Coach and analyst Mario Carrillo took a more balanced stance. “Cruz Azul showed heart, they earned it — they’re a team that knows how to win,” he said.

Javier Alarcón added a critical note: “They’re not at the same level as in previous rounds. They’re rushed in the final third and lacking precision.”

On Fox Sports, the focus shifted to Vicente Sánchez’s coaching impact. With the win, Cruz Azul extended their unbeaten streak to 16 matches under his leadership. However, according to journalist Gustavo Mendoza, not everyone within the club had faith in the Uruguayan manager early on.“There were people inside Cruz Azul who didn’t want Vicente to succeed,” Mendoza reported. “But here he is — in a final.”

One of Cruz Azul’s defenders took a moment to recognize the leadership of head coach Vicente Sánchez and the team’s growth throughout the tournament. “Of course, he deserves credit. He took over during a tough period and managed the situation well — this success is also his reward,” Jesús Orozco said.

Cruz Azul is aiming to capture its seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup title, further cementing its status as one of the tournament’s most successful clubs. With six championships to date, La Máquina sits just one behind Club América, the competition’s all-time leader with seven.

Cruz Azul’s continental titles came in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, and most recently in 2014. Now, the team not only looks to equal América’s record but also hopes to end a four-year championship drought — their last major title was the Liga MX crown in the Guard1anes 2021 tournament.

With their place in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final secured, La Máquina now shifts focus to the Liga MX quarterfinals, where they’ll face León on May 7 or 8. La Fiera enters the series well-rested after more than two weeks without competitive action, but they’ll be without star midfielder James Rodríguez for the first leg due to suspension.