It's been two weeks since Rubén Omar Romano was fired as Santos Laguna head coach for making obscene gestures toward his team's fans.
His firing has led to a quick downward spiral for Santos, both in morale and on the soccer field.
Diego Cocca has been named interim coach of the team, which has not won since Romano's exit.
Things could get worse for Santos as the team faces Club América on Saturday in an intriguing match-up in Week 9 of the 2011 Mexican Clausura season.
Things haven't gone well for Cocca in his only experience as a head coach in Mexico. The Argentine-born coach led two games last week, and lost both.
His first loss came against Cruz Azul in a CONCACAF Champions League match.
Then in a Week 8 match, Santos lost 1-0 to Necaxa, the last place team in the Clausura standings.
"It's not easy to adjust to a new system in such short amount of time under these circumstances with Romano's surprising dismissal," said Oswaldo Sánchez, the club's goalkeeper and team captain.
Santos will host a Club América team that is coming off a 4-3 win against the Diablos Rojos of Toluca.
América has begun to play an attacking brand of soccer that coach Carlos Reinoso has been looking for since taking over the team earlier this year.
"We have worked hard to create a spectacular team that people will like while getting good results," Reinoso said.
América enters its match against Santos as the second best offense in the tournament, with a league-leading 16 goals. It is tied with fellow Mexico City club, Cruz Azul. Pumas UNAM leads the league with one more goal.
On the other hand, Santos has only found the back of the net on six occasions while its defense is 12th in the league having received 11 goals.
This could be a must-win situation for Santos as the team tries to keep any playoff hopes alive. The players want to earn a slot in the "Liguilla," or playoffs, while trying to help give their new coach some sense of comfort and perhaps confidence.
Both teams have faced each other 55 times since 1976. América has dominated the series with a 26-12-17 record.
Santos has not won at home against América since the 2007 Apertura tournament. It was a 4-0 outing.
The Xolos
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Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles are coming off an impressive week. They not only beat the last place team in the Liga de Ascenso standings with a 2-1 outing last week but they also were victorious against Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy in an exhibition match.
The Xolos beat David Beckham, Landon Donovan and company in penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 draw at Torero Stadium on Wednesday at the University of San Diego. It was an impressive outing despite facing an MLS squad that was ending its preseason matches. But a win is a win.
That is why Tijuana's win against Lobos de la Benemerita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla was important. It gave the Xolos 11 points in the standings, moving the team to seventh place in the standings.
It was only the second win for Tijuana this season as it tries to defend its league title. Tijuana will be looking for its first home win when the team hosts Correcaminos de la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas on Sunday in a Week 9 match.
Mexican Clausura schedule
Saturday, March 5
Monterrey vs. Querétaro; 3 p.m.
Cruz Azul vs. Necaxa; 3 p.m.
Chivas vs. Tigres; 5 p.m.
Santos vs. América; 5 p.m.
San Luis vs. Jaguares 6:45 p.m.
Atlante vs. Pumas; 7 p.m.
Sunday March 6
Puebla vs. Atlas; 10 a.m.
Toluca vs. Morelia; 10 a.m.
(All Times Pacific)
