Gabriel Milito is clear: in the sheepfold, time runs against the clock. After 15 months on the Chivas bench, the title drought is beginning to take its toll and the demand in Guadalajara has already reached its highest point.
Faced with constant questions from the press, former soccer players and coaches, the Argentine strategist broke his silence this Friday in an appearance where he put diplomacy aside to defend his project tooth and nail.
"I respect everyone's opinion and that's fine. We focus on the internal. What I don't like is when the team is criticized... I will always defend my players when they are unfairly criticized," the helmsman of the Sacred Flock stated at the outset, assuming absolute responsibility for the football slump.
For the South American, the Guadalajara environment magnifies every setback due to mere commercial interest: "I know very well how soccer works and Chivas will always be in the news. If we win, they will give us a very good rating, and if not, we will talk about them not getting the points.
I understand that they need to talk like that because that's how the media works, but the reality is different; I see football as a sport, not as a business. I analyze performance: tying while being surpassed is not the same as tying while being superior.
For analysts, if Chivas draws two in a row, it is great news, but I don't see it that way,” he pointed out bluntly.
Direct dart to the 'analysis tables'
Milito's discomfort escalated when he touched on the issue of former members of the union who today occupy microphones in the media, calling them incongruous.
“The analysis of a coach is very different from that of a journalist, because we have professional and sporting interests… the journalist's opinion often has business interests,” the coach shot, saving the harshest punchline for his professional colleagues:
"I rarely agree with the opinions of former coaches who go to the programs, those who got upset when they were criticized and now like to criticize. Much worse are the former players, who when they were in a locker room were hurt by criticism and today they judge their teammates. That hurts me even more."
Calm towards the Leagues Cup
The numerical reality has Guadalajara under the microscope: a hesitant start in the Apertura 2026 with just four points out of a possible nine, added to a bitter debut in the Leagues Cup after drawing with LAFC and biting the dust in the penalty shootout. Despite the panorama, the 'Marshal' prefers to see the glass half full.
"We are playing, in my opinion, very well. Being superior to the rivals. It is true that we generate a lot and achieve little, but I am more worried about playing poorly than the lack of forcefulness. It is easier to recover the goal than the level of a team that is going down," the Argentine explained.
Finally, the red and white helmsman called for patience ahead of the final duel against FC Dallas, a match for which he also confirmed the significant loss of defender José Castillo.
"Tomorrow we have the obligation to win due to the format of the tournament. We will go with that mentality. The team maintains the line and gives its all. We understand that everyone wants championships, but calm down. What interests me is that we do not hold anything back," he concluded facing North American customs.
