Chivas de Guadalajara, like all Liga MX, begins 2021 with illusions about the continental plan; although looking towards South America. It is the fact that there is now, in a concrete way, the hope that Mexican football can once again be the protagonist of the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, Conmebol tournaments, after almost half a decade.
Club Deportivo Guadalajara was, together with its eternal rival, Club América, the first two Mexican teams to take part in these iconic South American club competitions in 1998, and that lasted almost two decades until 2015, after the Tigres UANL final against River Plate, which ended up being sanctified. A period in which rojiblancos stayed with runner-up Libertadores in 2010 and reached the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. However, the question we are asking is whether Chivas would have the level to fight again for both trophies in the event of the reinstatement of the MX League.
For all the Conmebol tournaments that Mexico has participated in throughout history, Chivas played 92 games, adding 36 wins, 23 draws and 33 defeats. These statistics are already important information when analyzing what could be a hypothetical return to these competitions. Guadalajara have always been tough rivals and therefore, if both Libertadores and the South American played, they would continue to be.
What should be considered and weighed, whether the rivals Chivas should face are equal, weaker, or tougher than those facing the Sacred Flock in their last appearances and if they are, in addition, compared to those who play the CONCACAF Champions League.
And regarding these questions the answer is a resounding yes in both cases. Today, in South America, there are more tough and more difficult teams to beat than they were at the beginning of this century, when they were few and very strong. To name, you can talk about Carlos Bianchi’s Boca Juniors who for many years dominated Argentine football and was unstoppable on the continental level. Today the situation is different, with more heterogeneous and complete schools, without distinguishing names or history. Although you can sometimes see a hegemony of certain cadres, as in the case of River Plate, just a rival of Xeneize, led by Marcelo Gallardo.
To this must be added travel. Extension of quotas by Conmebol, which allowed several teams to participate in competitions, also caused a greater diversification in terms of the locations where these meetings take place. In this sense, Mexico has always played at a disadvantage compared to CONCACAF competitions, because every time they leave the country they have to make long and exhausting trips. This is something that the MX League must weigh when evaluating a possible return to Conmebol.
But if the question needs to be answered, consider whether Chivas de Guadalajara has the level, The answer is yes and no. Yes because It is one of the most important teams in Mexico and the continentTherefore, he would be a very difficult rival to defeat, a serious candidate to reach the decisive stages. And not because Mexico has never been characterized in its history because it has competed seriously in this field; MX League teams, including Chivas, have reached the grand final of the tournament, but they are always in front of the supremacy of South America, it must be recognized. After this, Today, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay are clearly equal to or superior to domestic football.
However, the return of both Liga Libertadores and Copa America teams to the Liga MX would be great news for all Mexican football, who would once again win his place in a continental competition that has always had Chivas and the rest of the clubs as protagonists; in addition to the significance generated by the confrontation of the great protagonists of South American and world football, such as Boca Juniors, River Plate, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Santos, Lanús, Vélez Sarsfield, among others. We will need to see what happens in this 2021.
Repeat as a semifinalist, at least