Ex-Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha is one game away from leading Cruz Azul to their first Liga MX title in 21 years.
The former Ibrox Gaffer drew the first leg of the championship’s playoff final with Club America 0-0. The return leg, in the 87,000 seater Estadio Azteca, is neatly poised. It kicks off at 12:30am Monday, so basically late tomorrow night.
The title would be part of a double after Pedro lifted the Copa MX with Cruz Azul in November. It was only the fourth time in their history that they’d won it.
This would be a real vindication of the Portuguese manager’s management ability. Especially after he experienced such a tumultuous time in Scotland.
Can we forgive Pedro Caixinha for poor Rangers spell?
Pedro was also routinely humiliated in the press and treated with a severe lack of respect. He also spent a lot of money on expensive flops and never quite settled in Scotland.
He was sent packing last November and got the Cruz Azul job by early December. Pedro clearly wanted to make a statement too.
Pedro Caixinha is on the verge of winning two trophies in his debut season with the club. He also won three major titles in Mexico with Santos Laguna, the Liga MX (2015), the Copa MX (2014) and the Campeon de Campdeones (2015). Mexico it seems, is his preferred stomping ground
But do those who criticised him need to eat humble pie? For me, probably not. He had a great opportunity at Rangers and was supremely well financed, but probably put the club back a year through poor results.
He met the press with soundbites and aggression and really failed to deal with the press here.
But what a job he is doing in Mexico.
In other news, one of those expensive Caixinha signings looks set to return to the club.