On March 23, 2024, the sports president of Club América, Santiago Baños, provided his insights on the team’s recent coaching changes in an interview. Baños compared former coaches Santiago Solari and Fernando Ortiz to current coach Andre Jardine, highlighting the different styles each brought to the team.
Baños described Solari as a coach who “didn’t like to take risks” and favored a more defensive approach, while Ortiz was seen as more offensive but sometimes disorganized. In contrast, Baños praised Jardine for bringing a balance to the team’s playing style, focusing on a structured approach with a fixed containment strategy.
During the conversation with Ricardo La Volpe on the YouTube channel ‘Lavolpismo,’ Baños also shared his views on the training of Mexican coaches and the impact of foreign coaches in Mexican football. He emphasized the importance of experienced coaches and the need for a balance between Mexican and foreign talents.
Furthermore, Baños touched on the topic of reducing the quota of foreign players in Mexican football, stating that forcing Mexican players to fill spots may not necessarily lead to their development. He argued that Mexican players should earn their spots based on merit and competition with foreign players.
In conclusion, Baños highlighted the challenges and complexities of managing a team like Club América and stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between domestic and international talent in the Mexican football landscape.