MEXICO CITY -- "The reality is that MLS is growing little by little. I was here when [David] Beckham came to the league, and his arrival was important for the growth of the league. Now, there are even more important players coming over, and that shows that the league is growing. Look at the stadiums; they are first-class. All these things are good for the league," said Cruz Azul midfielder, Rafael Baca, who last played an MLS game in Oct. 2013 and since then seen his playing time in Liga MX increase each year. Between the 2016 Apertura and 2017 Clausura, he played a total of 2,571 minutes, and in the Clausura alone, he started in 16 of Paco Jemez's first 17 league games in charge of La Maquina.
Baca's recount of MLS's advancements took place at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium on July 3rd after Cruz Azul lost 1-0 to Monterrey. Los Celestes' preseason included a week-long training camp in Queretaro, plus friendlies against Monterrey and Toluca in Texas. On Monday night, they played their last preseason friendly against FC Porto, who's currently in Mexico on tour. Cruz Azul beat the Portuguese side 3-2 on penalties.
There's no certainty in what shape or form Paco Jemez's Cruz Azul will be in come the Apertura. After six consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs, the fans at Estadio Azul are disillusioned, however, there's still a considerable group of followers who believe in Jemez's coaching methods, and the players are convinced that his playing style has all the potential to work in Liga MX.
"In the physical aspect, I can tell you that with Jemez's coaching staff we're always working on it," Baca told ESPN FC regarding Jemez's coaching methods earlier this year. "The work we put in is heavy. Although training sessions usually last between an hour and a half and two hours, you're always working at 100 or even at 110 percent. So the intensity to press high the opponent and the physical components are things we take care of a lot.
"I think that our work is reflected on the field because when you see us play, you can notice the intensity with which we press our opponent. We're always trying to take command in the game, of always being vertical with our play.
"All these new details have given Cruz Azul a new face. We're on the right path, however, we know that what the people want to see is us fighting for the title."
If there was a player who seemed comfortable employing Jemez's ideas on the field last season that player was Baca. However, he dealt with a particular problem in the last year. Based on Liga MX regulations, Baca, who was born in Tuxpan, Michoacan, couldn't play in Liga MX as a Mexican-born player because he wasn't registered as a Mexican-born footballer before the age of 18. In early June, Baca confirmed on social media that his situation had been resolved, and that starting this Apertura, he would be playing as a Mexican-born player.
"To tell you the truth, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. It's always an extra, unnecessary pressure to play as a foreigner in your own country when you're Mexican, but I knew that this problem was going to get solved sooner than later. Fortunately, it got solved and now I'm calmer," he said.
It says a lot about Baca's strong character that even with that extra pressure he had to carry, he was able to become an immovable player in Jemez's XI. For Jemez, last season was one to adapt and understand to Liga MX. He experienced a lot of strange things. "If something strange happens, it has to happen to Cruz Azul. All the strange things have to happen to us.
"The probability that a goalkeeper scores a goal on you is one in a million, and it had to happen to us," said a flabbergasted Jemez after Cruz Azul drew 2-2 against Pachuca after 44-year-old Oscar "Conejo" Perez scored a 93rd minute header to tie the game.
In six games during Jemez's debut season, certain events happened after the 80th minute that prevented Cruz Azul from either winning a point or even three. Striker Martin Cauteruccio, who came with a good resume from Argentine giants San Lorenzo, only scored once in league play. Patience is a word that Jemez and the players used a lot last season, but this season, Los Cementeros need to get wins right away in order to escape the relegation zone. There will be little patience and Baca has known that since the start of the year.
"He [Jemez] tells us to be patient, which is easy to say, but to interpret it and put it to work is complicated because when you get to the stadium, the first thing you want to do is to win. But sometimes that desperation to win and give joy to the fans leads you to commit errors.
"Sometimes those errors lead to a draw or a loss. But we have to be patient and believe in Jemez's project. We can tell that our style is changing; we're playing like a different team.
"We can see the change."