Gustavo Matosas (left) and Club America Sports President Ricardo Pelaez speak prior to a press conference on May 19, 2015, in Mexico City. (Photo: Mexsport)
MEXICO CITY – Five months into his tenure as Club America's head coach, Gustavo Matosas has been relieved of his duties, the Liga MX side announced Tuesday.
The Aguilas won the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) in April and finished level with Tigres atop the final 2015 Clausura regular-season table. Their bid to repeat as Mexican champion, though, was ended at the quarterfinal stage by Pachuca, which advanced 7-5 on aggregate.
Club America Sports President Ricardo Pelaez made it clear that the decision to part ways with Matosas was mutual and amicable.
"Today, and by mutual agreement, we terminated the employment relationship between our technical director Gustavo Matosas and the coaching staff with the institution of Club America,” said Pelaez. “This institution will always be grateful to the players and coaches who have represented us and even more when they have lifted a trophy as we recently did in the [CONCACAF Champions League], as is the case of Gustavo Matosas and his staff."
Pelaez explained that the sole reason for the change was a difference of opinion on how the team would be constructed for the next season, which will see Club America compete in the 2015 Apertura, the 2015/16 SCCL and the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.
"The decision is institutional,” the former Mexico international, 52, remarked. “It is to give continuity to the team that worked so long and cost us to assemble them. That's why basically. Simply, there were differences at the moment in regard to the design of the team for the next tournament. We could not agree on the players who could come in and which ones could leave.”
For his part, Matosas expressed thanks for the opportunity to work with the 12-time Mexican champion.
"Ricardo [Pelaez], thank you very much for this fantastic opportunity of leading America,” said the 47-year-old, who previously led Leon to a pair of Liga MX crowns. “Thank you very much to all fans of America, to all the players who gave everything on the field, to all the people working here. I only have words of thanks to the directors, the fans, players, employees of America. Thank Joseph Romano, Yon de Luisa and especially the team owner, Mr. Azcarraga."
In December, Matosas replaced Antonio Mohamed, who guided Club America to the 2014 Apertura title with a 3-1 aggregate triumph over Tigres in the final.
