Flight 6407 of the Iberia Airlines landed eight minutes earlier than scheduled (4:57). Saturday morning welcomed Cruz Azul's new coach, Paco Jémez, coming from Madrid and awaiting him were more than fifty representatives of the media, queuing up for the manager's statements. Among the crowd of reporters were curious people, passers-by at Terminal One of the Airport, asking: Who are they waiting for? Who's arriving, huh?... Some left disappointed as they couldn't identify the person.
Half an hour after the arrival, a strong bald man silhouette appeared in the documentation area, waiting from a distance, just as the media were doing on the other side of the glass. He was wearing a simple red shirt, jeans, and carrying a black backpack, as well as a couple of suitcases. Minutes passed by and Jémez didn't come out; tension increased due to confusion. Speculations arose that he wouldn't speak to the press, that he would do it later on Tuesday, when he is officially presented.
At 6:15 in the morning, Jémez started to approach. He had lost one of his suitcases, one more to add to his repertoire. As he faced the microphones and cameras, he couldn't hide his surprise, he gave an incredulous smile and tried to be formal. Representatives from Cruz Azul were also waiting for him, informing him that it would be appropriate for him to speak until the official press conference; however, he still managed to give a couple of words.
Reporters immediately threw questions that any fan would want to hear answered positively: "What do you think about the 19-year drought of titles at Cruz Azul?"; "Are you prepared for a challenge like the one that lies ahead?"; "What is your main objective for the tournament?". And Jémez returned to the smile from the beginning, but not without pronouncing: "All I can say is that I am very excited to join this team, with tremendous desire to start working; I hope to visit the facilities tomorrow (Sunday), get to know them, and start planning the preseason."
A offensive revolution is expected from Paco Jémez for the next tournament. That has been the trademark, the essence of a football that he has displayed, regardless of the shortcomings, in teams like Rayo Vallecano and even Granada. Now, he may have the most competitive squad he has ever coached in his career - he has been a coach for 10 years. That is the main reason why the Celeste fans trust in the capacity of the Iberian strategist: "What else can I say? It is a great club, and I am excited about everything related to it", he said as he headed towards a waiting van.
On his way to the car, he took the time to distribute his first photos as Cruz Azul's coach, pose for the different lenses, and smile. Before closing the doors of the van, in response to more questions, Jémez delivered a new message: "I hope to see you all soon and tell you what I have prepared"... The era of Paco at La Máquina has begun. It won't be easy. He faces the most difficult task: convincing a desperate people of joys and impatient for satisfaction on the field.