André Jardine Faces Challenges to Form Competitive Team for Liga MX Play-In

The head coach of Club América, André Jardine, is set to navigate a challenging Play-In match against Tijuana for the Apertura 2024. Tasked with defending their back-to-back championship titles and aiming for a third consecutive win, Jardine must assemble the best available team amid player injuries and international commitments.

Throughout much of the season, Jardine has faced obstacles as several key players endured injuries or dips in form. This week, the primary issue was the absence of eight players who joined their national teams. The upcoming Thursday match at the Estadio Caliente against Xolos will particularly test the team.

Key squad members such as Luis Malagón are expected in goal, with Kevin Álvarez, Sebastián Cáceres, Igor Lichnovsky, and Cristian Borja in defense. The midfield will likely feature Alejandro Zendejas, Jonathan dos Santos, Diego Valdés, and Brian Rodríguez, while Rodrigo Aguirre and Henry Martín are set to lead the attack.

Due to a ligament injury to Igor Lichnovsky, Víctor Dávila was signed as a replacement. Nevertheless, Dávila’s subsequent fracture raised doubts about his availability for the Liguilla, contingent on América’s potential success in the Play-In.

Some players experienced less activity during the recent international fixtures, which could prove beneficial for their club performance. For instance, Brian Rodríguez (Uruguay) and Cristian Borja (Colombia) saw minimal playtime on the bench, with Alejandro Zendejas playing merely three minutes for the US national team.

More involved was Henry Martín, who scored a brace playing 25 minutes for Mexico against Honduras. Additionally, Israel Reyes and Diego Valdés completed full matches for Mexico and Chile against Honduras and Peru, respectively. Rodrigo Aguirre had the most extensive game time among the squad.

Despite the challenges, Jardine has welcomed the return of Sebastián Cáceres, who overcame muscle issues, though he has limited minutes this season due to frequent injuries. Ramón Juárez is also available.

As players like Israel Reyes, Henry Martín, and Luis Ángel Malagón join the squad from national duty, Jardine must now optimize his lineup to secure a Liguilla berth. América’s failure to secure a direct playoff spot through a top-six table finish necessitates this additional match, where nearly all key players are now available except for Diego Valdés, sidelined by an injury sustained while with Chile.