This is just the beginning, and I have no doubt Chivas will be competitive this season: Gabriel Milito | OneFootball

Following Matchday 1 of the Apertura 2026, Gabriel Milito spoke to the media at the postgame press conference, where he shared his thoughts on the night’s match at Estadio AKRON. Despite the result, the Chivas manager made it clear that he remains confident in the work the team is doing and in the quality of his squad.

Milito admitted that the match changed completely after Chivas went down to 10 men early in the second half, while praising his players for continuing to fight until the final whistle. He also discussed the team’s ongoing process, the impact of the new signings, the return of the players who participated in the FIFA World Cup, and Efraín Álvarez’s recovery.

Gabriel Milito’s quotes:

* “It was a very hard-fought first half, and we could have scored. We made adjustments at halftime, but then the red card came, and with the score against us and a man down, the match became very difficult. Even so, the team stayed true to its identity.”* “They scored a second goal, and that’s when fatigue really caught up with us. We were facing a very good team, but so are we. At 0-0, one mistake led to the opening goal. We conceded a completely avoidable penalty.”* “Playing 50 minutes with 10 men is extremely difficult.”* “We’re just beginning this tournament. We need more time together. Our players who were with their national teams hadn’t been with us for more than three months.”* “I liked what I saw from Kevin and Jordan (on the new signings). Now it’s a matter of spending more time working together, but I’m very happy with the squad we have, and I know we’ll be competitive.”* “They looked good. They’re players who strengthen our team and bring goals from those positions. Both scored goals last season, and although we created plenty of chances, we needed more goals.”* “After such a long season, we needed more depth in the squad because, in addition to the league, we also have the Leagues Cup. We needed to bring in more players.”* “I say this with humility: it’s been a year of building and many positive things. We’ve built the squad we have today, and I truly believe we have a very, very good group.”* “Chivas’ history and greatness are enormous. It’s a privilege to have that responsibility. I embrace it with total commitment and a winning mentality. I believe we have a squad with tremendous quality that can perform at a very high level.”* “Efraín is doing very well. He missed the entire preseason and has only been training with us for two weeks. He’s a very important player for us, and hopefully he’ll reach his best form as soon as possible.”* “The club has outstanding players of all ages. Five of them played in the FIFA World Cup, others came very close, and our Academy continues to produce an excellent foundation of talent. That’s extremely important because the best way to strengthen ourselves is with homegrown players. The two signings we needed are exactly the ones who arrived. We don’t need anyone else. I’m very happy with the squad we have.”