Cruz Azul (pictured) face Asian champion Western Sydney Wanderers in the FIFA Club World Cup on December 13, 2014, in Rabat, Morocco. (Photo: Mexsport)
RABAT, Morocco – With a potential meeting against Real Madrid as the reward for victory, Cruz Azul kicks off its FIFA Club World Cup (FCWC) campaign Saturday against Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdallah.
The CONCACAF champion is making its first appearance in the competition and midfielder Christian Gimenez believes that La Maquina is ready to impress.
“This week, since we have been here in Morocco, we have tried to fine tune everything for the first match, because we are in a Club World Cup,” said Gimenez, who played in the 2008 CWC with Pachuca. “We are privileged ones and we are going to give it our all. We are going to leave everything on the field in order to represent Cruz Azul, Mexico and CONCACAF well. We are confident in having a historic Club World Cup.”
A 13th place finish in the 2014 Liga MX Apertura with a 5W, 6D, 6L record was unexpected, but the squad’s spirits have been lifted noticeably thanks to a strong pre-tournament training program.
“We have grown as a group,” Gimenez noted. “I think that is the strength after the togetherness that we have on and off the pitch. I believe that if we think about and analyze everything what happened to us in this last season that has to strengthen us to have stronger minds.
“What we can change is what is coming. And what is coming is the historic participation of Cruz Azul in a Club World Cup. So that is what we can change and it is in our hands.”
While the eight-time Mexican champion respects Western Sydney and its abilities, Gimenez wants his team to play its own game.
“It is a tall team, a team that is well organized,” he concluded. “They have players who are very fast and are very dangerous on set pieces, and we will try to counter that playing how we do. We do not change our way of playing, our style.”
