💙 La Máquina gearing up in full for the Concachampions final
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
Cruz Azul needs to lift the Concachampions title and forget the bitter taste they experienced in the semifinals against América in the Liga MX.
🚂🚨 Cruz Azul cerró su semana entrenando en CUEste sábado tuvieron interescuadras y así cerraron su semana.📌 Rotondi empezó a correr en estos días, pero aún no se integró con el equipo, ni el ni el 'Toro' Fernández. #CruzAzul pic.twitter.com/f4fO86qnMs
— Gerardo González (@gerardoo_gh) May 24, 2025
More than a week away from the Grand Final in CU, La Máquina continues to fine-tune the details and with the doubt of whether Rotondi will be at 100% for next Sunday. Cruz Azul lives with doubts about who will be their new strategist, but they must have a clear objective: to become champions against Vancouver Whitecaps, will they achieve it?
📸 Manuel Velasquez - 2025 Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
15 hours ago
- New York Times
Canucks trade target tiers 2025: Ranking the best fits on the offseason trade block
We are getting very close to the end of the NHL league year. This week, the Stanley Cup Final will start, and 48 hours after Lord Stanley's hallowed mug is awarded, the offseason fun will commence. Over the past few weeks we've been building out lists of free-agent and trade targets that the Canucks could consider this summer. These are mostly exercises designed to familiarize ourselves and our readers with the basics of how the offseason marketplace is shaping up. Advertisement What we haven't done just yet is truly editorialize. We haven't pounded the table or stumped for specific players. We've yet to really make the case for why Vancouver should prioritize pursuing this player or that player as this offseason unfolds. That changes today. With our 2025 Canucks trade tiers, we'll make a more serious argument for which of the realistic trade targets on the offseason trade block make the most sense for Vancouver. From the top targets to the young upside bets, here are our 2025 Canucks trade tiers. Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are at something of a contractual impasse with their most frequently used centre (in the regular season, anyway), 23-year-old, 60-point pivot Marco Rossi. The Canucks, meanwhile, are desperate for help down the middle of their forward group. They need a top-six centre above all else. It's not a tap in that Rossi would move this summer, necessarily. Wild general manager Bill Guerin — a former Jim Rutherford lieutenant, who has a close personal and professional relationship with Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin — explained as much to The Athletic's Michael Russo this week. 'I think sometimes you just have disagreements on where a player is at, and that's fine,' Guerin said. 'And sometimes it takes a little while longer to work through things. But out there, there's this belief that we don't like him or we're going to trade him. 'And look, he's no different than any other player. If we can make our team better by trading someone, we're going to do it. But that doesn't mean we don't like the player. And Marco is a player that we like.' Rossi may not be the perfect fit from the Canucks' perspective, given that he's somewhat undersized and isn't right-handed, but to focus on those attributes is to overthink it. This one feels like it could be a unique opportunity for a centre-needy team, the sort of opportunity that a team like Vancouver should try to seize — even if you have to pay a retail price to land the player. Advertisement Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins detonated their roster at the NHL trade deadline, and if that rebuilding effort continues or deepens this offseason, big, productive 28-year-old centre Pavel Zacha would seem like an ideal fit for Vancouver's needs. Zacha is 6-foot-3 and plays a relatively rugged north-south game. If you wanted to design the perfect centre to complement Conor Garland's buzzsaw playmaking style in a lab, you'd produce a player pretty similar to Zacha. Vancouver has had interest in Zacha before, back when he was a less-established top-six player with the New Jersey Devils. If he shakes loose this summer, and if the Bruins are looking for future assets in a potential trade return, Zacha would be precisely the sort of fit that you'd expect the Canucks to chase eagerly. J.J. Peterka, RW, Buffalo Sabres The Canucks feel that their biggest need is at centre, and that's completely understandable. Given Vancouver's struggles to generate scoring chances over the past few years, however, the club still needs more position-agnostic elite forward talent. And while J.J. Peterka isn't an elite two-way player at this stage of his career, there's no denying his calibre as an attacking threat. Peterka is a restricted free agent this summer, and there's a widespread sense in the industry — alluded to recently by Frank Seravalli at Daily Faceoff — that he'd welcome a 'change of scenery.' If Peterka and his camp were to drag their feet in contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres leading up to July 1, when the threat of an offer sheet will be significant, it's possible that he could end up on the trade block. The bidding for Peterka, given his unique speed and scoring profile, is likely to be fierce if he's made available in trade talks. He may be that rare talent worth taking a big swing on. Erik Haula, RW/C, New Jersey Devils Erik Haula has struggled to live up to the three-year contract he signed with the New Jersey Devils a couple of summers ago, and only managed 21 points this past season. There are some signs that the versatile, and preternaturally confident veteran forward is beginning to slow down somewhat at the age of 34. That would be a concern if Haula were signed long-term, but he's entering the final year of his contract with a $3.15 million cap hit. Advertisement If the Devils want to reallocate Haula's cap space this summer and are willing to trade the veteran Finnish forward at a reasonable price, he's the sort of mid-range swing that could deepen Vancouver down the middle and help replace Pius Suter's contributions. Morgan Geekie, RW/C, Boston Bruins Morgan Geekie has the size and the right-handed shooting ability that the Canucks need to add to their forward mix, especially in the probable event that Brock Boeser departs in unrestricted free agency. Geekie, 26, is coming off a career year in which he shot the lights out from a shooting percentage standpoint, potting a career-high 33 goals. He's a restricted free agent this summer and has the sort of absurdly strong arbitration case that often gives teams pause about tendering a qualifying offer. That could cause him to shake loose via trade this summer. The issue with acquiring Geekie is that there's no way to lock in surplus value on his next contract. He's got a lot of leverage provided that he's qualified, and his next contract is likely to be an expensive one. If the acquisition cost in a potential trade is reasonable enough, however, Geekie's profile is a good enough fit for the Canucks to justify signing him to a big money contract. Trevor Zegras, LW/C, Anaheim Ducks Coming off of two relatively disappointing seasons and playing for a team that's hungry to take a step forward after years of rebuilding, Trevor Zegras is at a low ebb of his exchange value this summer. Zegras isn't a perfect player — he lacks raw skating speed, he's dealt with myriad injuries and his defensive work rate runs a bit hot and cold — but he's impossibly skilled. And he was a shockingly effective play driver in his late 20s, which gives him something of a rare profile. It's difficult to acquire star offensive players when everyone agrees that they're star offensive players. If you want to acquire the next Sam Reinhart or the next Sam Bennett, however, you have to take some risks. Zegras definitely has a risky profile, but he's also got top-end skill to burn and the sort of upside that NHL teams have to be willing to bet on — especially when they're as short on offensive talent up front as Vancouver is. Advertisement J.G. Pageau, C, New York Islanders Right-handed faceoff ace J.G. Pageau may be slowing down a bit at 32, but he's everything the Canucks need down the middle of their forward group at the moment. Pageau has a long history of quality playoff performances, is a right-handed draw winner and faceoff specialist and has the sort of character and leadership skills the Canucks would do well to add to their mix in the wake of last season's debacle. There are signs of slippage in his game, however, and Pageau is entering the final year of his current contract. He'd be a helpful piece for a lot of NHL teams, Vancouver among them, but he doesn't have the sort of profile that the Canucks can afford to chase at a retail price point. Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators Jonathan Marchessault's first season with the Nashville Predators was a disappointing one, but the Conn Smythe-winning sniper is still a productive, hard-working goal-scoring force. And an excellent contributor at the left flank on the power play. Though Marchessault is getting up there — he'll turn 35 years old midway through next season — and has four years remaining on a contract that carries a $5.5 million cap hit, he's still got 30-goal, 60-point potential and championship pedigree. He'll have a lot of control over where he plays next, and Vancouver is unlikely to rank high among his potential options. He'd be a good fit in Vancouver from a hockey perspective, but given the Canucks' positioning, the fit probably isn't there. Mason Marchment, LW, Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars have a long list of pending unrestricted free agents, limited all-around cap flexibility and the sort of realistic competitive window to justify taking a big swing this summer. Put it all together, and Mason Marchment and the final year of his $4.5 million cap hit contract could end up on the trade block this summer. A productive, consistent second-line calibre winger, Marchment is an experienced playoff performer and stands 6-foot-5. He'd bring an element to the top of the Canucks lineup that this team is aching for. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C/LW, Carolina Hurricanes Like the Stars, the Carolina Hurricanes are so close to seriously contending for the Stanley Cup, but also feel so far away. Advertisement Carolina should be expected to take a big swing (or two, or three) this summer. And in the process of remaking their roster and attempting to graft elite skill into their lineup, the Hurricanes may look to shed some commitments and reallocate cap space to more offensively gifted forwards. Depending on exactly how the Hurricanes proceed here, Jesperi Kotkaniemi — who is still just 24 — has long been a target for Canucks management, and has the sort of cap number that the Hurricanes may consider jettisoning if they find themselves with a serious opportunity to land one of the top unrestricted free agents. Kotkaniemi isn't a dynamic offensive centre, but could be a credible second-line option in Vancouver. He'd bring a ton of size and grit to a Canucks forward group that is crying out for those traits. Nicolas Roy, C/RW, Vegas Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights are always liable to trade really good players in order to set themselves up to sign great ones in unrestricted free agency. Perhaps if Vegas sees itself as having a chance to bring in an elite winger like Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers, the team could consider trading a veteran player off its roster to maximize its cap flexibility. And if that happens and Nicolas Roy finds himself on the trade bloc, he'd be a near ideal trade target for the Canucks. Roy, 28, has only hit 40 points in a season one time in the last four years, but regularly hits 30 points (or more) in five-on-five situations. He's a credible top-six calibre centre, who, because he plays for such a loaded team, hasn't really received the sort of power-play and offensive deployment commensurate with his skill level. In a second-line role with the opportunity to pitch in on the first power-play unit, Roy could absolutely break out offensively in his late 20s. Advertisement Ross Colton, C, Colorado Avalanche Colorado remade their roster midseason, only to fall to former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Don't expect the always aggressive Avalanche to be deterred from going all in to contend with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in their primes. They're an absolute lock to be among the league's most aggressive teams this summer. Like many of the contenders that are among this offseason's biggest wild cards, the Avalanche may have to shed some salary if they're going to reel in a big fish on the trade market or in unrestricted free agency. And Colton's contract, which has two years remaining on it at a cap hit of $4 million, shifts from a full no-trade clause to a modified no-trade clause this summer. Colton might not have the sort of offensive pop that Vancouver should prioritize in pursuing a centreman capable of playing on the top two lines, but he's an absolute dog and would be a helpful addition to Vancouver's forward group. Mavrik Bourque, C, Dallas Stars Mavrik Bourque is a wildly skilled, young right-handed centreman who struggled to get into a deep forward lineup this past season. The Stars aren't likely to let Bourque walk affordably, despite their litany of high-end expiring players this summer. Dallas, however, is likely to be in pure win-now mode and Bourque, who is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, has earned himself a tidy raise on his second contract. He'd be a near-perfect developmental fit for Vancouver, even if the cost of acquisition would likely have to include Vancouver eating an inefficient contract (most likely on the back-end). Nick Robertson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs Nick Robertson doesn't have size and can be a maddening two-way presence, but he has the sort of speed and rush attacking ability that the Canucks need to find a way to add to their lineup. Advertisement The 23-year-old winger managed to stick around at the NHL level all season for Toronto this year, for the first time in his career. And he was productive when he got into the lineup, although he was most commonly used in the bottom six. Could Robertson do more in an expanded role for the Canucks? He could well be worth the dice roll to find out. (Top photo of Minnesota Wild centre Marco Rossi: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Washington Post
21 hours ago
- Washington Post
Cruz Azul beats the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 for the CONCACAF Champions Cup title
MEXICO CITY — Ángel Sepúlveda scored twice and Cruz Azul routed the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 on Sunday to win its seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup. Sepúlveda finished with a tournament-best nine goals. Ignacio Rivero, Lorenzo Faravelli and Mateusz Bogusz also scored for Cruz Azul, which built a 4-0 lead by halftime. The Liga MX club tied crosstown rival Club America for most titles in the tournament. It was Cruz Azul's first title since 2013-14 when La Máquina beat Tijuana. The Whitecaps were looking to make history as the first Canadian team to win the tournament, and the first winner from Major League Soccer since the Seattle Sounders in 2022. 'Cruz Azul is a club that demands a lot,' Cruz Azul coach Vicente Sánchez said through a translator. 'We prepared ourselves for this final. We had two weeks to prepare ourselves for this match, so we had a couple of friendly matches. Some players went to the national team. We knew this team, this rival.' Cruz Azul had four shots on goal in the first half and scored on all of them. La Máquina took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Whitecaps and Ignacio Rivero coolly finished with his left foot in the seventh minute in front of cheering home fans at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Faravelli's goal came after a similar defensive lapse, struck from distance and went into the net after hitting the post. After Sepúlveda's sliding goal in the 37th, Bogusz added a goal in the 45th just before the teams went into the break. Sepúlveda added another goal on a header in the 50th. It was Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier's fourth clean sheet of the tournament. The Whitecaps had no shots on goal during the match. 'I think that the main thing was that we were not able to come out with the calmness and confidence, and we were up against a team that came out very confident, playing at their home turf and and also in front of a great home crowd. So that was, I think, the main decider,' Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen said. Vancouver was without Sebastian Berhalter because of yellow card accumulation. He scored in both legs of the semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The Whitecaps had hoped that captain Ryan Gauld would return from a knee injury in time for the game but he was not available. Cruz Azul advanced with a two-legged victory over UANL Tigres. Sanchez, who took over as interim coach of La Máquina in January, was peppered with questions after the match about his future with the team. He fell to his knees and sobbed on the field after the final whistle. 'I don't know about the future. It's one day at a time,' Sanchez said. 'I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. We have to enjoy today with the people that supported us, with fans. And tomorrow we'll see, the decision does not depend on me.' It was the first meeting between the Whitecaps and Cruz Azul. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cruz Azul whips Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 to win CONCACAF Champions Cup
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Ángel Sepúlveda scored twice and Cruz Azul routed the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 on Sunday to win its seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup. Sepúlveda finished with a tournament-best nine goals. Ignacio Rivero, Lorenzo Faravelli and Mateusz Bogusz also scored for Cruz Azul, which built a 4-0 lead by halftime. Advertisement The Liga MX club tied crosstown rival Club America for most titles in the tournament. It was Cruz Azul's first title since 2013-14 when La Máquina beat Tijuana. The Whitecaps were looking to make history as the first Canadian team to win the tournament, and the first winner from Major League Soccer since the Seattle Sounders in 2022. Cruz Azul had four shots on goal in the first half and scored on all of them. La Máquina took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Whitecaps and Ignacio Rivero coolly finished with his left foot in the seventh minute in front of cheering home fans at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Faravelli's goal came after a similar defensive lapse, struck from distance and went into the net after hitting the post. Advertisement After Sepúlveda's sliding goal in the 37th, Bogusz added a goal in the 45th just before the teams went into the break. Sepúlveda added another goal on a header in the 50th. It was Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier's fourth clean sheet of the tournament. The Whitecaps had no shots on goal during the match. Vancouver was without Sebastian Berhalter because of yellow card accumulation. He scored in both legs of the semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The Whitecaps had hoped that captain Ryan Gauld would return from a knee injury in time for the game but he was not available. Cruz Azul advanced with a two-legged victory over UANL Tigres. Advertisement It was the first meeting between the Whitecaps and Cruz Azul. A sold-out watch party in downtown Vancouver went from wild to mild by halftime, sensing a runner-up status was inevitable. Social media reaction was mixed, with people applauding the Whitecaps' superb season and unbeaten streak, while people such as Rob @604robbie on X stated: "Nothing more Vancouver sports then not showing up in the most important game of the year." Glyn Bough @GlynBough said on X the difference in class was so evident. "The speed of though, action, positioning and quality of pass or defending the pass is at a different level from the Mexican side." ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
