ESPN presents Digital Stopwatch with David Faitelson and Eduardo Varela, who debate about national and global sports.
In today's edition on May 7th, the topics they delved into were the imminent return of soccer with the Bundesliga and which version of Chivas, the champion team, was better.
Here are the best statements from David Faitelson and Eduardo Varela:
Why is soccer coming back?
David Faitelson
"There is a social necessity, more than pressure, because soccer represents 'a return to normality,' which will not be normal as we know it, but I believe that the main driver for the return of soccer is the economy. The soccer industry is highly developed, like other sports industries, and it has to continue paying wages, paying footballers who earn a lot of money, and staying inactive would mean entering a terrible recession, a hole where some teams and leagues could be really harmed to the point of closing down."
"We have seen how unfortunately the economy in different sectors has worn down to the degree that there are companies, restaurants, small businesses that have had to close. Soccer has to come back."
Eduardo Varela
"The first reason has nothing to do with this topic, not for glory, but the other two are 50-50. I'll start with the social aspect, the distraction, people need a distraction because of the economy. However, it is dangerous if it is not done properly with the health authorities' support, without fans, for me that part is crucial.
"It's a domino effect, of course. It is said that in the United States alone, around 20 million people have lost their jobs, just think about that, in the number one nation in the world. Regarding the distraction aspect, if there is soccer, if there are other sports in the United States, it can help keep people at home. This is a collective effort, both from the organizations, the Ministry of Health, and the government itself, Liga MX. It is a step forward, but it has to be done very carefully, with professionalism in sports and health. It has to be done, and also economically, because it is a domino effect."
Was the 2006 Chivas team better than the 2017 team?
David Faitelson
"It's a way to look at it, I think (the 2006 team) had more solidity in its players, in its squad, and had a different type of players with a different temperament, another personality, like Oswaldo Sánchez, Ramón Morales, 'Bofo' Bautista. That team under 'Chepo' de la Torre had a different set of fundamentals on the field."
"Guadalajara celebrates its 114th anniversary on Friday, May 8th. We were talking to Amaury Vergara and he said that for him, that team referred to by Ramón Morales marked his time as a Chivas fan because that team also had a good campaign in the Copa Libertadores. They played that famous match at Boca's stadium, where there was that spit incident from Benítez, Boca Juniors' coach, towards 'Bofo' Bautista. I agree with what Ramón Morales says."
"(In 2017) we have to remember how they won the championship final, where there was talk of an arbitration issue in a match that was controversial against Tigres. But I think the 2006 team would beat the 2017 team."
Eduardo Varela
"As a squad, there's no doubt. 'Maza,' Magallón, 'Bofo,' Bravo, Medina, Ramón Morales, great coach 'Chepo' De la Torre, who qualified with that amazing team. In terms of names, that Guadalajara team was better, but they qualified in eighth place and beat the leader Cruz Azul without allowing goals, winning 2-0 and 2-0. In the semifinals, they defeated América without allowing goals. That was significant, and then they beat Toluca. They beat the superleader, the third-place team, and the fourth-place team."
"Almeyda's team advanced with draws, they beat Cruz Azul by just 1-0, but they drew the return match. They beat Toluca, but they advanced because they were in a better position. However, they beat the defending champion in the final. I prefer Almeyda's team because they achieved more with less talent."