The Tijuana Xolos have been having a historically terrible season, currently on a 15-game winless streak dating back to last season and coming off a highly disappointing 2-0 loss to Mazatlan FC.

Club Tijuana fell 1-0 in the first half of that match and were never able to recover or generate much of anything offensively, which has been one of the massive problems for Xolos this season.

The Border City Dogs are tied for having scored the second fewest goals this season with just 14 goals scored in 13 games played in this 2024 Clausura. Inclusively, six of those 14 goals have come from the penalty spot, as the Xoloitzcuintles are the Liga MX team that has been awarded the most penalties this season, but it has not helped much.

It is dumbfounding that manager Miguel Herrera is still at the helm, with the only explanation being the solid relationship that “Piojo” has with Club Tijuana’s ownership. Most, if not any other manager in this scenario with any other Liga MX club, would find it incredibly difficult to keep their job. However, “Piojo” does not hold all of the blame at Club Tijuana with a mix of bad decisions by the front office and an abysmal display on the field with a specific struggle to generate scoring opportunities, as mentioned before.

With these disastrous numbers, Club Tijuana is clearly not in the playoff race and is inclusively in another race now to avoid paying a fee upwards of $5 million. There is no relegation in Liga MX, but there is a relegation table, and whichever team finishes last on that table must pay that significant fee. The penultimate team on that table must also pay a fee of close to $3 million, which Xolos have already paid in the last couple of full seasons.

The Aztec Canines are currently last on that relegation table and are battling with FC Juarez to try and see who has to pay the lesser fee. Mazatlan FC is third to last on the table, but is very unlikely to finish in the last two spots with the games that remain this season.

This makes the last four games of the season for the Xoloitzcuintles of vital importance, especially the game against FC Juarez on April 14, away from home. Club Tijuana’s next game will be at the Estadio Caliente this Friday, April 5, against Necaxa in what is a must-win match to close out the campaign.

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.