Mexico

Regular-Season Success Means Little To Toluca

Toluca finished the regular season with the best record in the league but that only gives the club a slight advantage, manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" De La Torre said.

Nov 15, 2009 12:48:43 AM

Jose Manuel De la Torre- Toluca (Mexsport)

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Jose Manuel De la Torre- Toluca (Mexsport)

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Toluca

Toluca knocked off Puebla 2-0 in the regular-season finale and finished atop the regular season standings with 35 points, two clear of Morelia and Cruz Azul.

Such was the close to a season in which most everything fell into place for los Diablos Rojos, who will meet San Luis in the quarterfinals.

But regular-season success only goes so far.

"Finishing in first place is the consequence of what we did all season long. It is deserved, but it is over," Toluca manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" De La Torre said in a post-match press conference. "Now we have to recharge our batteries and pay attention in order to try and fight to be champions. We know that we have to go step by step."

A year ago, Toluca were in a similar position as los Diablos were heavy favorites in their quarterfinal series against Indios, but Toluca failed to score a goal and crashed out in the first round.

"What happened last season cannot be changed. We can't do anything about that," De La Torre said. "But I think that our team looked solid, strong and decisive with what they wanted to do. The important thing is that we got a good result while playing well."

Puebla did their best to thwart Toluca, both with their style of play and the state of Estadio Cuauhtemoc's pitch, but it wasn't enough.

"Toluca are a club who adapt well to circumstances," De La Torre said. "Puebla had a way they wanted to play, they complicated things and we overcame that as well as a pitch in poor shape."

Now that the postseason is here, Toluca can forget about what happened in the postseason and start to prepare for their march to a possible final appearance.

"The playoffs are a whole different season. Anyone can win. Here, all eight teams are favorites. Everyone who got in," De La Torre said. "As first place, we have reaped the rewards of the rules, that's true, but we haven't won anything during the regular season. To be champions, we have to be prepared for everything. In the quarterfinals, that means getting past San Luis."

Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Primera Division, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.

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