MEXICO -- The U-17 team of Cruz Azul came out in defense of the club, as it is the only blue category that made it to the playoffs of the Apertura 2019. They qualified on Saturday in a crucial match for their aspirations. They had to defeat Atlético de San Luis and achieved it with a comfortable score of 5-1.
The youth players, led by José Antonio Castro, are in the playoffs, something that the other categories of the institution could not achieve, including the First Division team led by Robert Dante Siboldi.
La Máquina was practically eliminated since matchday 14, after losing at home to Morelia (2-3). The hope that the younger teams would show their worth was only realized for the U-17 boys, since both the U-20 team and the Women's team finished the competition outside the final phase (in tenth place) with 24 points.
Today, the attention is on the U-17 team; they finished in seventh position with 36 points and have the great responsibility of raising the name of Cruz Azul. Their first opponent in the start of the playoffs is Pachuca and the feeling of the players is that they will reach the final and become champions, but to achieve it they also "need the support of the fans".
Their confidence lies in their football, as well as the trust they have in their coach, as in the Apertura 2018 the 'Gringo' led the U-15 team of La Máquina to the Liga MX title.
Santiago Pichardo, Yair Martínez, Diego Rivas, Richie Carreón, Jorge García, Juan Carlos Daccarett, and Rodrigo Huescas spoke to ESPN Digital, after training at La Noria.
Rivas spoke about the first accomplished goal: "We are very happy and satisfied with the way we finished the regular season. We feel very motivated and ready to face whoever comes our way. To become champions, we have to beat them all."
Yair Martínez intervened: "In the playoffs we will face a very tough opponent, but we will give it all with determination and heart."
Huescas acknowledged that there was not much belief in the team at first, because of the way they started the season, "we were way behind, but little by little things started going our way and we finished in the top eight, thanks to God."
Richie didn't beat around the bush and stated that after the performance they had in the last matchday, he is sure that "we will be champions".
He said that the 'Gringo' already knows about playoffs, "since he has already been a champion. He has a great experience that he is applying with us."
Diego Rivas believes that "nobody is better than him to teach us what he has learned in life and in playoffs. Nobody is better than him to make us champions."
The guys are aware that they are the only Cruz Azul team that can bring satisfaction to those who are part of the institution and to the fans themselves; that is why they ask the people to support them in this new title tournament.
"We know that they are always there with the great teams. We also need the support of the fans at this moment," added Rivas.
The group of players assures that they don't feel any pressure. "We are very motivated to be the only team that remains to represent the great institution that is Cruz Azul." Before saying goodbye, they cheered together: "Azul, azul, ra, ra, ra!"