Matías Almeyda wants MLS and Liga MX sides in the Copa Libertadores | OneFootball

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Blaise Bourgeois·14 February 2019

Matías Almeyda wants MLS and Liga MX sides in the Copa Libertadores

Article image:Matías Almeyda wants MLS and Liga MX sides in the Copa Libertadores

San Jose Earthquakes and former Chivas boss Matías Almeyda wants teams from Liga MX and Major League Soccer to participate in the Copa Libertadores.

Liga MX teams have been a part of South America’s premiere competition in the past but have not participated since 2015, when Tigres made the final.


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“Yes, [MLS teams] should be there because if the Champions [League] is played in all of Europe, then the Copa Libertadores should be played by all of America,” the 45-year-old told ESPN.

“It would be more complete to have one champion for America, instead of two.”

North America’s current premiere competition, the CONCACAF Champions League, has been won by Liga MX sides in all 13 years of the tournament’s existence.

However, Almeyda says MLS sides are closer to winning the title. He won the competition last year with Chivas over 2017 MLS champions Toronto FC.

“[MLS] was close [in 2018] until we got hold of them with Chivas and won,” laughed Almeyda.

“[The dynamic] changed and it will continue to change,” said the former River Plate midfielder.

“Toronto defeated América and won against Tigres, so it was an improvement.

“[Toronto] couldn’t manage [to win] against a great team [in Chivas], but before, it had defeated other big teams.”

The CONCACAF Champions League round-of-16 will commence on 19 February, the same date where the Copa Libertadores play-off stage will begin.