Tigres UANL coach Joaquim Pereira has called for maximum concentration from his squad ahead of their next Liga MX match against leaders Toluca, a key fixture in the fight for a Liguilla spot. The feline team, sitting 15th with just 10 points from ten games, needs a three-point haul to climb towards the playoff places. To achieve this, the team must improve its effectiveness in the final third, as their recent form of just one win in their last five games highlights a lack of sharpness.
Pereira explained that since his arrival, the focus has been on strengthening the defence, an aspect that has improved significantly. "Yes, right when I arrived, we trained the defensive line a lot to improve this aspect and we had a lot of improvement, we are conceding few goals," said the Portuguese strategist. He acknowledged, however, that the team must be more effective in the final third to create clear chances and turn matches into wins. This need for goals is urgent, as Tigres has required an average of 180 minutes to score each of their recent goals.
The coach referenced the two finals lost to Toluca in the past, defeats he described as painful. He clarified that the upcoming match on October 10th at El Volcán should not be seen as a chance for revenge, but as another step towards the main goal. "Our objective is this, to think about the Liguilla." Pereira stated. The last time they met, in May, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Eyes on the schedule
The Portuguese confirmed that all attention is on the clash against the Red Devils, who arrive as leaders with a ten-point advantage over Tigres. Only after that commitment will the team turn its focus to the next opponent, Chivas de Guadalajara. Fans can follow the team's progress by checking the full schedule on our fixtures page and the squad situation in the squad section.
Off the field, former defender Gerardo Torrado has expressed his disagreement with the circumstances of his departure from the club, a matter handled separately from the team's work. Tigres UANL head into the match after a 1-0 win over Puebla with a penalty from Juan Brunetta, their top scorer this season with four goals. The match against Toluca will be played on Saturday, October 10th at the Estadio Universitario.
Background and full detail: Record MX
