Monterrey, Mexico - After a disappointing elimination in the Quarterfinals against Toluca, coach Martín Demichelis expressed his desire to continue leading Club de Futbol Monterrey. The Argentine manager stated that despite the team's poor performance, they were just one play away from advancing to the Semifinals, which would have vindicated his strategies. "I obviously want to stay with Rayados; we have shown that we can play very well even in turbulent times. We played well against Chivas, had a great performance in the Clásico, and won against América and León away," he remarked in a post-match press conference at Estadio Nemesio Diez.
Demichelis recalled a critical moment in the match where they could have scored, stating, "We had our chance at the end, and we missed it. If we had scored, the team would have been in great spirits, and I would have been right about my approach. But now I don't have that justification, so of course, I want to continue." He reflected on the team's journey, noting that they had "given away" their classification in just three minutes during the Play-In, but managed to surpass Pumas and deliver their best performance of the semester against the league leaders.
During the press conference, Demichelis was questioned about his future, acknowledging that while he has the strength to continue, the decision ultimately lies with the club's board. "I am proud of the institution I’m part of. I will always have the strength to carry on, but there are extremely difficult decisions in life, and this is painful for the fans and the institution. We aspired to much more, and this club deserves better," he stated.
In his tenure with Monterrey, Demichelis has managed 43 official matches, achieving 20 victories, 11 draws, and 12 losses. His record includes a loss in the Apertura 2024 Final, an exit in the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and now, a Quarterfinal elimination in Clausura 2025.
After Monterrey's elimination, Demichelis reiterated his aspirations for the team. "We aim for much more after being knocked out in the quarterfinals of Clausura 2025. I am very sorry. After having played a great match in Monterrey, the difference could have been 4-1, but it ended up being a narrow margin. This is very painful for the fans and for the institution," he lamented.
He also cited Johan Cruyff, saying, "As Cruyff said, 'The difficult thing about soccer is playing easy.' We didn’t play easy today. They showed strength and were brave. I congratulate the rival for their stadium, atmosphere, and field. I wish them luck and hope they become champions."
On the other side, Toluca's coach, Antonio Mohamed, celebrated his team's progression to the semifinals after a 2-1 victory at Estadio Nemesio Diez, which allowed them to equalize the aggregate score and advance on the table position criterion. Mohamed praised his team for their offensive efforts, even with one less player on the field, and acknowledged the emotional weight of the victory against a team he holds dear.
"The team did the best offensive work with one less player. They had more chances than the rival. Set pieces paid off. Monterrey is a team I care about deeply, but as a professional, we won. Now we will see who we face next," he noted.
Demichelis's future with the club is now uncertain as he waits to hear from the board regarding his position. The pressure is mounting, especially given the significant investments made in the team, including the acquisition of high-profile players like Sergio Ramos. The expectations are high, and the results have not met the board's ambitions.
In the aftermath of the match, Demichelis expressed his hope for a rematch, believing that both he and his players deserve another chance. "We all deserve a rematch. I am proud of the institution I am part of and will continue with the strength that characterizes me. There are things that do not depend on me," he stated.
As Monterrey reflects on the season, the focus will soon shift to the upcoming Club World Cup, starting June 14, 2025. The team must regroup and prepare for what lies ahead, hoping to channel their frustrations into success on the international stage.
Despite the disappointment, Demichelis believes this Monterrey side has the potential to be champions. The challenge now is to turn that potential into reality. With a mix of determination and hope, the Rayados will look to bounce back from a semester that many would prefer to forget.
As the dust settles on this season, the Rayados are left to ponder their future, with questions surrounding the leadership and direction of the team. Will Demichelis get the chance to lead them back to glory, or will the board decide it's time for a change? The coming weeks will be critical for the club's future and its ambitions to reclaim the championship title.
