The blue team ensures a good atmosphere and says, "There is a demanding repechage ahead. We have one last chance against Monterrey."

In a press conference, Rafael Baca made it clear that in Cruz Azul, "the standard is set very high: either you're a champion or you're a failure." He also acknowledged that "Monterrey is the last chance to dream of the bicampeonato (back-to-back championship)."

Baca explained that they will "go out to propose the game, to win it" on Saturday against Rayados at the Estadio Azteca, in their repechage match that will be played behind closed doors due to the Disciplinary Commission's sanction for the homophobic chants heard in that stadium during their match against León.

He did not hesitate to point out that "football is giving us another opportunity... The important thing is that we, as a group, close ranks and focus on trying to do it in the best possible way on the field," said Baca.

He said, "Last season we did very well and the group remained focused. Today we play this repechage, we have to close ranks... At the end of the day, the debt is more ours, as we have failed to do many things. It has been an irregular season that this group does not deserve, considering what we achieved in the previous tournament. This group must transcend if it wants to make history."

He added that the match against the regiomontanos is already being prepared under the orders of Juan Reynoso, despite the absence of the national team players: Julio César 'Cata' Domínguez, Roberto Alvarado, and Orbelin Pineda.

Regarding the fact that this time they will not have the support of their fans at the Estadio Azteca, he expressed: "The fans are very important. We will miss them. It would be very regrettable to be left out of the 'Fiesta Grande' (playoffs)."

He ensured that there is a good atmosphere in La Máquina Celeste and that "there is a repechage with great demands ahead. We have one last chance against Monterrey."

Regarding the strong criticism on social media towards him, he simply stated: "It's part of personal taste. Some people like one player, others like another."

RESOLVED AWARDS

On the other hand, ESPN Digital was able to confirm firsthand that the Cruz Azul players received the corresponding economic prize for winning the championship since last August.

Regarding what is said in the press about bonuses owed in Cruz Azul, Rafael Baca confirmed: "No one owes us anything here, everyone is up to date, everything is in order. Cruz Azul is not a team that fails to pay on time."