The Tijuana Xolos have been having anything but an ideal tournament, currently sitting in 15th place on the Liga MX table with 15 points from 15 games played. With two games left in the 2023 Clausura season, the playoffs seem unlikely for Club Tijuana, and it is time to start looking ahead to the next season.

Despite not producing the best results this season, Miguel Herrera has his job secure for at least another season. The experienced Mexican manager was not brought in as a fireman to try and defuse the situation that was generated this season but was rather brought in already thinking ahead of the next season.

“Piojo” expressed his plans for the end of the season in a mid-week press conference at the Estadio Caliente. Herrera said, “At the end of the tournament, I’m going to sit down with Jorgealberto Hank and Antonio Nunez to plan ahead. Obviously, all us managers like to build our teams.”

The current squad was not built for or by Miguel Herrera, as “Piojo” just came in the middle of the current campaign. Just the prospect of working with Herrera is enticing to a lot of players within Mexican soccer as there is potential to bring in some big names to the border city in the next transfer window. This may include some current or former Club America and Tigres UANL players, who are two teams with a deep talent pool in Liga MX.

Herrera is a man who loves winning. As this will not be a cheap project for Grupo Caliente, as the current squad can definitely use some fine-tuning. There are a few players who seem like locks for next season, like goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez or attacker Alexis Canelo, but even team captain Lisandro Lopez is doubtful to return after not having the best campaign.

One of the areas where Club Tijuana needs the most strengthening is at the fullback position, as Miguel Herrera is yet to find a consistent fullback pairing in the season. Players like Jair Diaz and Luis Felix have been heavily inconsistent, and there are several options throughout the Liga MX to fill in those roles.

“Piojo” Herrera has found success in Tijuana before finishing top of the table in back-to-back seasons, as the offseason is currently more promising for Xolos than the remainder of the current campaign.

There is still a slither of playoff hope left for the Xoloitzcuintles with a home against Leon on Friday, April 21, and an away game at Puebla on April 28 to end the 2023 Clausura regular season. The Aztec Canines need to win both games before even thinking of making the postseason, as the 2023 Apertura has the greater potential of bringing greener pastures to the border city.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.