Why does Andrada state that Monterrey is not the favorite to become champion of the Liga MX?

Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Andrada, goalkeeper for the Monterrey Rayados, said on Tuesday that despite his team finishing in first place in the regular phase of the 2023 Clausura of Mexican soccer, they are not favorites to be the champions.

"It's useless to finish first. Now another tournament starts for everyone and whoever does things better will pass the series. We don't consider ourselves favorites. We know that Mexican teams are tough, especially in these instances where you can't trust yourself for a moment," he explained at a press conference.

Andrada, former goalkeeper for Boca Juniors, signed with Monterrey in the Apertura 2021, where the furthest he has reached in the local championship is the semifinals last season.

In this Clausura, the Rayados will make their debut in the final phase by visiting Santos Laguna on Wednesday in the first leg of the quarterfinals.

Monterrey, first in the table with 40 points, will have to overcome the laguneros, the dark horse of the tournament, as the team led by Uruguayan coach Pablo Repetto finished in 13th place out of 18 teams in the regular phase and qualified for the play-off.

In the play-off, Santos, who scored 19 points in the regular phase, eliminated the champion Tuzos del Pachuca, who finished fifth in the Clausura classification.

"That (why 13 teams aspire to the title in Mexico) should be asked of the directors. Personally, in most leagues I know, the first one is the champion and lifts the cup. We know that the championship is like that. We have to assimilate the points difference between us and Santos in the best way possible. Statistics are separate," Andrada concluded.

The second leg of the quarterfinal series between Monterrey and Santos Laguna will be played this Saturday.

EFE.