Chivas Guadalajara has officially revamped its squad as it gears up for the Clausura 2025 preseason, marking the beginning of a new chapter under coach Óscar García Junyent. The team played its first preseason match against Mineros, which concluded without any goals, but the presence of young talents provided hope for fans.
This fresh roster features standout talents such as Hugo Camberos, Luis Rey, Daniel Flores, Matías Cendejas, Ariel Castro, Benjamín Sánchez, Gael García, Samir Inda, and Teun Wilke, who all showcased their skills during the match. Notably, with the exception of Inda and Castro, the aforementioned players previously celebrated victory with Tapatío in the Liga de Expansión, where they played under the guidance of coach José Meléndez. Meléndez is set to join García’s coaching staff for the upcoming season.
Highlighting their individual accomplishments, Camberos netted five goals during the last Liga de Expansión tournament, Sánchez and García each scored six, and Wilke excelled with ten goals to his name. Defensively, Rey, Flores, and Cendejas played pivotal roles, with Wilke and Rey making their league debuts last season.
Coach Óscar García is intent on tracking and developing homegrown talent from the club's Verde Valle training center. His commitment to young players is evident with the inclusion of 17-year-old Samir Inda, who recently made his debut with the U23 team and already has championship titles under his belt from the U16 and U18 categories.
Other young athletes, such as José Castillo, Mateo Chávez, Raúl Martínez, Fidel Barajas, Yael Padilla, and Armando González, are expected to have significant roles moving forward.
The Rebaño is set to continue its preseason at Verde Valle, with two more friendlies lined up against local rivals. On Friday, Chivas will face Atlas, and depending on the outcome, they may also compete against either Tapatío or Leones Negros on Sunday.
Another significant aspect of preseason preparations is the status of Jesús Orozco, known as 'Chiquete.' After facing some challenges, the 22-year-old defender is poised to return to training this Monday. Orozco is currently under consideration for Cruz Azul, who aims to secure him during the transfer window. Nonetheless, the negotiation surrounding his release clause remains unresolved.
Chiquete’s absence from training sessions and matches was largely due to testing positive for chikungunya, which left him sidelined during key preseason activities. Frustrations have arisen among club officials due to his prolonged absence.
With the fresh strategy implemented by García, the Chivas organization hopes to restore its glory and deliver impressive performances throughout the forthcoming season. The youth movement within the squad brings new energy and excitement, which may be integral to rejuvenate the team’s aspirations.
Chivas fans are eagerly awaiting to see how this new era will play out, especially with the upcoming fixtures on the horizon. The prospect of young talents stepping up to the plate alongside experienced players could renew hopes for the club's ambitions as they begin their competition.
