With the appointment of Fernando Hierro as sports director of Chivas, the first decision for what was thought to be a ‘new era’ of Chivas, was that the Serbian Veljko Paunovic will take charge of the team from Clausura 2023.
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Veljko Paunovic, the most successful man in Chivas since the post-Almeyda era
Paunovic was criticized for his lack of knowledge of the Mexican media but the facts were different: 34 points in a short tournament, a record that Chivas he had not achieved since 1997. The Serbian’s impact was such that the club reached the Final of that tournament after eliminating Atlas and América in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals respectively.
The signing of Víctor Guzmán as captain had been key, and when the project seemed to reach its peak in less than six months, they beganthe problems.
Chivas started the Final two to zero Return against Tigres in Akron, thanks to the goals of Víctor Guzmán and Roberto Alvarado. Neverthelesswhen the cats decided to attack with all their arsenal, Paunovic lacked a response.
The beginning of the debacle: Paunovic vs Pocho Guzmán and the idiosyncrasy of the Mexican
Alan Mozo, one of Chivas’ most insistent players forward, he came out in the second half to give way to Jesús Sánchez; Likewise, Eduardo Torres and Daniel Ríos entered, highly questioned changes that would have caused a rupture in the locker room.
Guadalajara lost strategy and Tigres came back from the Final to take revenge for what happened in 2017. Even so, having reached a Final in their first tournament was something that no one expected.
For Apertura 2023, the reinforcement of Erick Gutiérrez of PSV Eindhoven and the incorporations of Ricardo Marín from Celaya and Óscar Whalley from CD Lugo. Here came more problems.
Whalley was brought directly by Fernando Hierro to Chivas, and therefore, Paunovic never took it into account and continued with Miguel Jiménez as their starting goalkeeper. This caused friction between the two but Hierro respected Veljko’s decisions.
The rupture between the Chivas coaching staff and players
Chivas was eliminated in the first round of the Leagues Cup, and Paunovic said verbatim that “the team was not ready for competitions internationals” which the group took as an offense, because they felt that their own coach exposed them.
Paunovic’s weak point was always the strategy: he never left aside his 4-3-3 and the changes were man by man, that is, There were no variants in the lineup or in the tactical stoppage. He solved this with Quinton Fortune, the one who prepared the set pieces that made Chivas one of the most dangerous teams in fixed tactics.
The final clash was between Víctor Guzmán and Veljko Paunovic. The captain was benched and although he always denied having any differences with the coach, Pocho’s facial expressions whenever he left the field said it all.
Chivas had an irregular pace in the Apertura 2023 but still qualified for the direct league with 31 points. However, they lost the tie Quarterfinals three to one against Pumas.
A few days before the regular tournament ended, Fabrizio Romano published that Paunovic had a formal offer for Almería of Spain and that I would take it. However, the deal fell through and Veljko finished the season. However, In both Hierro and Amaury, his indecision about whether to leave or stay caused annoyance.
When Veljko Paunovic assured that he would only return with Chivas
The whole combination of problems throughout his first year in office were enough for both parties to decide not to continue. And Chivas named Fernando Gago as his successor.
Before the semifinals of the same Clausura 2023 against América, Paunovic said in a press conference that “it belongs to Chivas and that is how it will always be.” This implies that he would not direct another Liga MX club. Something I had also said Matías Almeyda. But the difference was that the Argentine did keep his word.
Even after his departure from Rebaño, an amateur named Greeneyer Cepeda. He claimed to have met Paunovic and when asked him if he would return to Mexico, he said no.
“He told me that he had offers from León and Santos, but he wants to return to Chivas one day. While he is resting with his family.”
In the end, Veljko Paunovic returned to Liga MX but with Tigres, the team that beat him in his first final.
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