Cruz Azul presented Vicente Sánchez as coach in the first game of the post-Martín Anselmi era, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Puebla.
Playing at home, before a weak attendance of just over 10,000 spectators in Ciudad Universitaria (CU), the Machine chose to give the interim position to Sánchez, who officially has the position of technical director of the under 23 youth category.
Originally from Uruguay and former soccer player from Toluca and América, Vicente Sánchez said he was happy to have received his first opportunity as a first division coach in Mexico, although he does not know if he will be able to stay there.
“We will see on a day-to-day basis,” was the only thing that Sánchez commented in a conference after the draw against Puebla when he was asked if he would remain the titular technical director of the Machine in the remaining 14 rounds of Clausura 2025.
He did not give certainty about it, rather he was grateful for the moment and extended happiness: “It is a very special day for me, of great gratitude with many people. I spent 20 years playing and now it is the beginning of a career, in that process there are many people to thank, starting with the president Víctor Velázquez and the sports director Iván Alonso.”
Vicente Sánchez began his career as a coach at Cruz Azul starting with Clausura 2024, always with the under 23 men’s category. He recorded 21 wins, 16 losses and three draws, in addition to putting the team in two Liguillas, although in both he was eliminated in the quarterfinals. at the end.
He is part of the coaching staff that began work with the approval of Iván Alonso starting in 2024, in the same way that the Argentine Martín Anselmi took the reins in the first division between the Clausura and Apertura tournaments of that year.
The abrupt departure of Martín Anselmi to Europe in the week before the game against Puebla caused the board to opt for Vicente Sánchez as interim technical director and Joel Huiqui as his assistant, in addition to Héctor Gutiérrez.
Sánchez was also questioned in a conference about the situation in which he found the players after Anselmi’s unexpected breakup.
“The truth is, I found the group well, perhaps for some it was a different week, but normal. I was on the other side for 20 years and I understand the situation. The players gave me all the respect and, if we continue with the same identity and game, the results will come.”
Regarding the contractual situation of Martín Anselmi, who has not been officially announced as a casualty by Cruz Azul, he limited himself to answering: “The truth is, I know the same as you. I thought the club’s statement was excellent, transparent and faithful to its history.”
In the latter, the Uruguayan alluded to a publication by La Maquina one night before the match against Puebla, in which he argued that they continue “with the legal procedure against Martín Anselmi and his coaching staff for breach of contract.”
Cruz Azul has an intense first half of 2025 between two competitions: Liga MX and Concachampions. In the next 14 days they will face four games: visit to Necaxa and Tijuana, as well as home against Pachuca in Liga MX, in addition to visiting Real Hope of Haiti in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup (Concachampions).
