Previewing Houston Dynamo vs Tigres with La U Times
(image via Tigres UANL)
The Houston Dynamo begin play in the 2025 Leagues Cup as they will take on three teams from Liga MX in Phase One of the tournament. We talked to our friends from La U Times to get some insight on Tigres ahead of tonight’s match.
Bayou City Soccer (BCS): Guido Pizarro has taken over as Tigres boss after retiring. How has he done with the jump to coaching and how do the fans feel about him so far?
La U Times (LUT): As of now, I think the fanbase is split on his appointment. Many thought a more experienced coach would have been a better fit. The concern derives because he shared a locker room and is friends with most of the players. Will he make the tough decisions, is what many wonder. The other half has been very supportive as they acknowledge the history he had as a player for the cub.
Overall, the team is still under development, and we have yet to see the best version of Tigres. One thing to point out is that players who were not getting a chance before with previous coaches, have gotten it under Guido. We'll see what type of rotation he will make as Tigres makes their debut in this tournament against the Houston Dynamo.
BCS: Angel Correa has joined Tigres from Atletico Madrid this summer. How does he fit into this team and what do you expect to see him from in this tournament?
LUT: Above all, another attacking option. He is a player that can create his own chances and is able to create for others. We lacked that last season, apart from Brunetta, and now he has some help to distribute the buildup of the offense. One of his most important qualities is the ability to get in spaces and open them for his teammates. We expect for him to step into that role of being the focal point of attack and lead us to some possible hardware.
BCS: Andre Pierre Gignac and Uriel Antuna missed the match on Saturday? What is Andre Pierre Gignac's role now on this team and can we expect to see him and Antuna in Houston and in this tournament?
LUT: APG, the biggest question going into our season. He is coming off an injury that kept him off the field for almost all of last season. Age and injuries have likely set him on a trajectory for a 20-30 minute role. He got playing time in our first match but missed this last one due an ankle issue.
Antuna who???
Uriel has been a total disappointment during his time at Tigres and even if he missed again, the fanbase wouldn't sweat it.
BCS: Some Dynamo fans may not be as familiar with Tigres and their squad. Who are some other players Houston fans should keep an eye on for this match?
LUT: Juan Francisco Brunetta has been the player carrying the offensive load since he arrived at Tigres. At times, his games can be less impactful but he has maintained good stats to be in the conversation as one of the best midfielders in the league.
One other player to mention will be Ozziel Herrera, a young Mexican talent that has always demonstrated the potential to be great but has not made the big leap into a prominent role. In 2 matches thus far, he has 2 goals, so we are hopeful that he makes the jump to stardom during this Leagues cup.
BCS: A Liga MX team has yet to win Leagues Cup with the larger number of teams from both leagues. With fewer MLS teams this year, do you think Tigres could break that tradition and lift the cup?
LUT: I would like to think so. This team and fanbase know that the expectation for every competition that we play in is to win. The new additions and young talent have to learn and establish a winning culture and this is an ideal scenario. Additionally, this is a great outreach opportunity to spread the brand across the American market and the way you achieve that is with wins and hardware.
———
We want to thank LA U Times for their time and wish all the Tigres fans the best of luck tonight.
