Almada's dilemma: América starts the tournament with a significant loss and incomplete signings
América will suffer a significant absence in at least the first eight games of the Apertura 2026 tournament due to a cleaning on the right knee
The management of Uruguayan coach Guillermo Almada at the head of América will not have all the quality pieces that he had projected. This Wednesday the significant loss of Mexican-American forward Alejandro Zendejas was officially announced due to a problem in his right knee.
Without a doubt, it is unfavorable news for the debut of the Uruguayan strategist. Almada was hired by the Águilas board to make them forget the stormy Clausura 2026, a tournament in which they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the UNAM Pumas.
From glory to oblivion: The end of the Jardine era
The elimination against the university squad was the last straw in André Jardine's management. The Brazilian strategist paid dearly for the bet on his compatriots Raphael Veiga, Vinicius Lima and Rodrigo Dourado, who did not make the cut; Except for Veiga, the rest ended up leaving the institution.
For that reason, the board ended up thanking Jardine, leaving aside the historic three-time championship he achieved for the Eagles. Instead, they opted for the proven ability of Guillermo Almada, who has already demonstrated his weight in Mexican soccer with Santos Laguna and Pachuca.
Alejandro Zendejas' medical report: How long will he be out?
The path for the new coach will not be smooth sailing. The loss of Alejandro Zendejas is a serious blow to the design of its starting lineup, especially because the club has also not been able to complete the signings of a center forward and a creative midfielder.
Faced with this event, Club América announced that Zendejas successfully underwent joint cleaning on his right knee. The Coapa squad reported that there is no exact time for their reappearance on the playing fields:
“Our player's recovery time will be according to his evolution,” the club published on its social networks. A complicated year for the Stars and Stripes attacker.
Zendejas reported to América after a disappointing World Cup with the United States team. In the summer tournament he was only able to play 14 minutes against Türkiye, coming on as a replacement, as he was not to the football taste of Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino. It should be remembered that the North American team said goodbye in the round of 16 after losing 4-1 against Belgium.