Gabriel Milito’s influence at Chivas was on full display as his team earned a third straight win, defeating Pumas 2-1 away on Matchday 12. The result pushed Chivas into ninth place with five matches left, reviving belief in Milito’s project even as their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Chivas currently sit ninth in Liga MX.
Getty Images SportA significant turnaround
Milito emphasized that his team must continue to treat every match as a final as they chase a spot in the postseason. Guadalajara are now clinging to a Play-In position – a significant turnaround after a difficult start to the season.
“We’ve reached the decisive stretch,” Milito said after the match. “If we want to reach the goal we set at the beginning, we have to keep earning points – ideally three at a time. We don’t have much margin for error. We’ve climbed in the table, but there are still five games to go, and every match will continue to be a final.”
AdvertisementAFPThe rise of a new star
The Argentine manager also praised 20-year-old forward Armando González, whose six goals this campaign have made him a key figure in Chivas’ recent surge.
“He’s still developing, but he’s got a great mentality,” Milito explained. “He presses, he fights, and he has a natural instinct for scoring – something that’s hard to find at his age. The team depends on his goals, and he gives us confidence up front.”
Getty Images SportGonzález dreams of joining El Tri
After the match, González spoke to about the joy of scoring past Costa Rican legend Keylor Navas, calling it “a special moment.”
“Keylor is one of the greats,” González said with a smile. “I’m happy and thankful to God for the experience.”
Although he wasn’t called up by Javier Aguirre for Mexico’s latest international window, González admitted that representing El Tri at a future World Cup remains a dream.
“Playing in a World Cup? Of course,” he said. “If I keep doing things right, I believe my time will come. For now, I just have to stay focused on Chivas.”
Getty Images SportTough schedule ahead for Chivas
Looking ahead, Chivas will face Mazatlán FC, Querétaro, Atlas, Pachuca, and Monterrey, with the clash against Monterrey shaping up as the toughest test in their remaining schedule.
“There’s no more room for mistakes,” Milito concluded. “We’ve made progress, but we have to keep improving and avoid getting too comfortable with recent results.”
