Twenty Years Without a League Championship: 20 Errors that Have Marked Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul has reached 20 years without winning a league championship, and with their elimination in the Quarterfinals of the Apertura 2017, we remember the 20 errors that have marked one of the biggest institutions in Mexican soccer.

1 Poor choice of coach

The decision to bring in Paco Jémez was based solely on his European experience, although he has had few significant achievements as a coach.

2 Little active participation from the board

Apart from the issues that led some board members to be absent, little was seen from them in terms of adjusting the coach's strategies, his fiery press conferences, or the players and their inconsistent performance in the tournament.

3 Open door for promoters

Historically, Cruz Azul has been criticized for allowing third parties disguised as promoters to make decisions regarding what happens within the team. Carlos Hurtado is the perfect example of this, and he has even been accused by former executives of the institution.

4 Players without prestige

Over the past few years, José de Jesús Corona and Christian Giménez have been the most renowned players in a squad filled with foreigners, most of whom are Chilean players who rarely get minutes with their national team, which will not be participating in the 2018 World Cup.

5 Cold and passive fans

Although Cruz Azul and Atlas are known for having the most loyal fans in Mexican soccer due to their long wait for a championship, the truth is that the Cementeros' fans are increasingly expecting less from their team, and the majority have stopped supporting them with the same passion as before.

6 Lack of a "killer"

Felipe Mora was the team's top scorer with eight goals in the regular season, three goals less than the leading goal scorers Avilés Hurtado and Mauro Boselli. However, the Chilean failed to score against Club América in 180 minutes, missing a clear opportunity to advance just a few minutes before the end of the match.

7 Parade of sports directors without results

The press room at Cruz Azul has seen numerous sports directors come and go, but none of them have been able to provide the team with a truly competitive image to once again fight among the top teams in the league.

8 Forgotten youth academy

When your academy players in the first team spend their time on the bench or signing autographs in stores or shopping malls, it becomes clear why there hasn't been a homegrown reference player since the days of Javier Aquino or even further back.

9 Excessive spending

With the amount of money the team has spent on reinforcements, coaches, and executives, they could have already built the most modern stadium in the country without the need to continue searching for land or sharing (once again) the Estadio Azteca with Club América. Alternatively, they could invest in their young talents.

10 The weightless home

Even though the team has little time left at the Estadio Azul, it seems that the venue will close its doors without ever having witnessed Cruz Azul lifting a league title.

11 The psychological pressure of "cruzazulear"

Like carrying a 20-kilogram weight on its back, Cruz Azul cannot escape the "cruzazulear" factor, which seems to have become part of their legacy and that is difficult to overcome when facing a decisive moment.

12 Difficulty in stringing together victories

Realistically, it was going to be very difficult for Cruz Azul to achieve back-to-back wins in the playoffs, especially in the most crucial phase of the championship. They had to wait a couple of years to achieve this feat, which only allowed them to return to the playoffs but nothing more.

13 Weak against strong opponents

It's not just about breaking free from America's clear dominance over La Noria, as teams like Monterrey and Tigres have also managed to score against Cruz Azul in the regular season. As they say, "to be a champion, you have to defeat everyone," including the big powers.

14 Fragile defense

Although they managed to nullify Club América's offense for 120 minutes, the Cementeros' defense was one of the most beaten throughout the season, conceding 22 goals in 17 games. With such figures, it would be difficult to imagine stopping the powerful attacks of Monterrey and Tigres.

15 Off-field factors

Not many good things can happen when the team's environment is tainted by the coach's controversial statements, the desperate search for a new stadium, or when your starting goalkeeper already has his mind set on Chivas.

16 Lack of empathy with the fans

Although it is said that the fans and their disappointment gradually reduce support for the team, the board is not fair enough to them either. This is evident in the lack of promotions and the high prices shamelessly applied whenever the team faces a renowned opponent at the Estadio Azul.

17 General failure in the Copa MX

Although Cruz Azul won one of their recent titles in the Copa MX, in the Apertura 2017 they had a double opportunity to eliminate Club América in the knockout stages, and one of those opportunities was in this tournament. However, they did not have the strength to overcome a team that increasingly seems to have their number.

18 Few players with a "celestial" background

For years, Cruz Azul has ceased to have players who feel connected to the institution, its colors, and its needs. They no longer have the so-called "blue blood" and fail to understand the depth of the problems the team currently faces.

19 Lack of continuity for those who deserve it

At this point, all Cruz Azul cares about is finding a coach who can deliver the championship they have been waiting for. While they have been criticized for hiring coaches who do not meet the expectations, they have also been intolerant with those who, on paper, brought a style to the team and whose only sin was falling victim to a "cruzazuleada".

20 Twenty and counting...

The year 2017 was not a good one, as the faithful fans of the team have been warned for the past 20 years. Cruz Azul continues to accumulate decades without being able to add the long-awaited ninth star to its shield. They have won 39 league titles, but none of them have made it to the trophy cabinet at La Noria.