Celso Ortiz will captain the Rayados

Celso Ortiz, midfielder of the Rayados del Monterrey, the most expensive team in Mexican soccer according to Transfermarkt, assured this Tuesday that he is prepared to lead his team as captain in the search for the Apertura 2022 tournament title.

«This time it changes to have the tape nothing else. I have always been prepared for the games that I have had to play, more so if it is in a league, which are the duels that any player wants to play, ”explained the Paraguayan national team who was in the 2016 and 2019 Copa América.

Ortiz, 33, will debut as captain of the Rayados in a League final phase this Wednesday when visiting Cruz Azul, one of the most popular teams in the country, at the Azteca Stadium, in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Opening.

The Rayados are the most valuable team in the Mx League according to the site specialized in appraising soccer players Transfermarkt, reaching a value of US$ 78.9 million; Cruz Azul is sixth with 50.2. «All the games are complicated and more so in the league, we know what Cruz Azul represents, but we have prepared well. The group is in good physical and emotional condition. We know it will be difficult, but we feel like the favourites,” added the winner of one League title and two Concacaf Champions League titles with Monterrey.

The former soccer player from Cerro Porteño highlighted the strength that the Rayados have shown in defense in the Apertura since they were the team with the fewest goals scored in the regular phase with only 13 goals allowed. «The team prepares not to receive goals and to try to do so. The match against Cruz Azul will be played in the midfield, we know the hierarchy that our rival has, we respect it, but we also know our level of play », he commented.

The Rayados finished the regular phase of the Apertura in second place, so they qualified directly for the quarterfinals and played the playoffs, in which Cruz Azul beat León 1-0 last Saturday. Despite having a week without activity in official matches, Ortiz ruled out that they will reach the series against the Celestes with a lack of rhythm. «There was a stoppage, but we come from good training sessions. We have recovered injured players and we are confident. We have done a good job during the week and we are aware of what this match will be », he sentenced.

The second leg between Monterrey and Cruz Azul will be played this Saturday at the BBVA stadium, home of the Rayados.
Ortiz will face his compatriots Ángel Romero and Juan Escobar, both blue players, in this series. EFE