GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Chivas owner Jorge Vergara was obviously delighted to see his team win the 2017 Clausura title against Tigres on Sunday. He also suggested it could be a turning point for the club.
Chivas struggled as an institution on and off the field really ever since the 2010 Copa Libertadores final, but Vergara believes the dark days are over and this title will usher in a new era.
"This is the end and the beginning of an era," Vergara told ESPN FC on the pitch after the game.
"It's the end of a lot of problems over the past two years and a beginning of a new chapter for the team."
Vergara has always been inclined toward hubris and added that his sights are not only set on winning the CONCACAF Champions League next year, but also winning the Club World Cup and repeating the Liga MX championship victory.
While the Club World Cup is beyond any reasonable reality, the other two targets are possible, with one caveat: coach Matias Almeyda stays.
The former Argentina international has rejuvenated Chivas, taking them from an institution in the midst of a relegation battle when he took over, to one that's now back sat on their perch as Mexico's most successful club -- even if they are level on 12 titles with Club America.
"For a year and eight months Chivas fought against relegation and today to be the best team in Mexico ... it is a really big change," Almeyda said after the match.
"I value today and the people do, too."
Caught up with @chivas owner Jorge Vergara after the team's title win.
"This is the end and the beginning." #ligamxeng pic.twitter.com/qFfy5LpPyi
- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) May 29, 2017
Vergara has backed Almeyda with expensive signings like Orbelin Pineda, Alan Pulido and Rodolfo Pizarro -- all three of whom were brilliant on Sunday.
Almeyda waltzed into Chivas and has conquered the whole institution. There is clearly humility and he doesn't forget his poor, rural upbringing in the small town of Azul. But that is mixed with a certain swagger. Almeyda is clearly comfortable at big clubs. And with 40 million fans, Chivas are most definitely a big club.
"I've come to awaken the giant," said Almeyda in his first news conference back in Sept. 2015.
There was no talk about simply avoiding relegation. Almeyda had big plans and set the bar high from the start, changing the mentality around the place, as well as introducing an exciting and dynamic brand of football fans can be proud of.
"I left my parents house when I was 15 to make a living out of football," he said in that same news conference. "I"m used to fighting."
It is maybe a stretch to suggest Almeyda is one of the brightest young coaches in the world. He'll need to prove himself in Europe before that can legitimately be said, but there can't be many that mesh his charisma with a playing style that is so pleasing on the eye. Fans have flocked to see Almeyda's Chivas because the all-Mexican team grafts, runs, shows unity, tries to play football and, now, lifts trophies.
Almeyda clearly has Vergara's backing more than ever. But what he has achieved at Chivas naturally means there will be offers from Europe from reasonably big clubs in the near future, even if Almeyda has stressed time and time again that he's in this for the long haul and seems settled.
"This is one of my best titles because behind all this is a country [Mexico], it's something more profound," said Almeyda on Sunday.
"[The job] was to convince a group of Mexicans that they could do it. I said it when I arrived and they managed it."
Quick video reaction from Estadio @chivas as Chivas are crowned Liga MX champion! #ligamxeng pic.twitter.com/iFuxb0RbfX
- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) May 29, 2017
As long as Almeyda stays, the future certainly looks bright for Chivas.
As for Sunday's losers, Tigres deserve a few words. They will be back. There is simply too much quality for them not to. Two final defeats -- in the CONCACAF Champions League as well as Liga MX -- have made for a bitter season. But this remains the best squad in Liga MX. Next campaign, with a preseason behind them, they'll be like a wounded animal with something to prove.
There was an anger at the end of the game, with Jesus Duenas livid about a late penalty decision that went against Tigres.
"He's arrogant, a clown," said Duenas of the referee. "He shouldn't be attracting people's attention, he's there to help ... it was a really clear penalty."
As an advert for Liga MX outside of Mexico, we should hope Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti's Tigres get their chance for revenge against Chivas in a final in the near future.