Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 10y

Real rallies against new Liga MX rules

The new rules that will allow an increased number of naturalized Mexicans to feature in the Liga MX starting from the Apertura 2014 have earned the wrath of Jose Luis "Guero" Real, the Chivas head coach known for his work with young Mexican players.

Real said in a press conference on Thursday that increasing the number of naturalized players will affect young Mexicans coming through, in terms of getting chances in the Liga MX, and admitted it will impact Chivas.

"Without doubt (it affects us), but here the policy is to give opportunities to youngsters with quality," he explained.

"It affects us in some positions that we can't cover with players from the youth setup where we do have to go out and look for players, like the case of (Carlos) Salcido," added Real, acknowledging the failed negotiation in the offseason with Guadalajara's former player. "The prices are different, the situations are different and on that side, yes (it does harm Chivas)."

The increased price of players may be a complaint that some fans are tired of, but it is a natural case of market forces being at work and capitalizing on Chivas' all-Mexican policy, which restricts the player-pool available compared to other clubs.

On a more positive note, what the new Liga MX rule does do is continue to strengthen the Chivas image as the one Mexican club intent on going against the flow of foreign-born players and sticking with homegrown talent.

The club's marketing department has already played on the contentious issue this week in its publicity campaign for Sunday's match at home to Chiapas.

"Chivas plays with Mexicans and youngsters," reads the poster, with 19-year-old Sinaloa-born Carlos Fierro standing with his back iron-board straight and chest puffed out in the accompanying artwork.

"Chapo" Sanchez out

The news on Thursday that Jesus "Chapo" Sanchez had been operated on and will be out for around four weeks came as a major blow.

The right-winger was converted to a wingback last season under Juan Carlos Ortega and Real continued Sanchez's on-field progression by starting the 24-year-old at right back in last Friday's 1-1 draw at Santos Laguna.

Sanchez was one of the only positive performers last season for Chivas and the season opener gave plenty of optimism that he could make the spot his own.

Nestor Vidrio is the most obvious candidate to take over, but the former Atlas player doesn't possess Sanchez's pace or ability to get forward and support Fierro on the right wing.

Improved atmosphere around club

Maybe it was simply that Chivas put on a much-improved performance in the first week of the Clausura 2014, or maybe there has been a behind-the-scenes sit-down with regards to how to improve the club's somewhat battered image, but there has been a notable improvement recently from Chivas in terms of PR.

On Monday, players cut the rosca de Reyes (cake) on Three Kings' Day alongside fans and journalists in a relaxed atmosphere. The club also released a video of players making surprise visits to the houses of fans to give them the club's new away shirt.

The club website has also been given a positive overhaul and the Twitter account even mentioned that Real was doing an exclusive interview with one of the local newspapers -- the same one that had a journalist banned from covering the team last season.

On Friday, part of Chivas' barra brava was allowed into training to support the team ahead of the Clausura 2014 home opener. Jorge Vergara was present and even gave away four official shirts. There is also an unconfirmed rumor that a homage to the club's all-time top scorer, Salvador Reyes, may take place before kickoff on Sunday.

The atmosphere around the club has just felt better and the ticket office at the Estadio Omnilife has also been noticeably busier in the lead up to Sunday's game against Chiapas. Perhaps it is a coincidence, or perhaps not.

Luis Michel

The goalkeeper had become one of the reference points for Chivas since Oswaldo Sanchez left, playing a total of 232 games, but the club has let him go to see out his contract with Saprissa in Costa Rica, although Chivas are paying part of Michel's salary, according to sporting president Juan Manuel Herrero.

Change was required to draw a line under 2013, but Michel hadn't been one of the major problems and he leaves the club with his head held high after a career that saw him in the national team at World Cup 2010.

Predicted team vs. Chiapas (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET):

Antonio Rodriguez, Vidrio, Nestor Araujo, Jair Pereira, Gerardo Rodriguez, Jorge Enriquez, Israel Castro, Fierro, Omar Bravo(C), Rafa Marquez Lugo, Aldo de Nigris.

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