After a 4-1 loss to Necaxa in Week 5 of the Liga MX 2019 Clausura season, Enrique Meza was dismissed as Puebla’s manager. Shortly after, Jose Luis Sanchez Sola better known as “El Chelis” was appointed as the new boss in what proved to be a very polarizing move among fans.
“Chelis” was back for his fourth stint with the team and at 60 years old it seemed like he had given everything he had to give to his hometown team. Going from a manager who had won four league titles and four international titles to a manager better known for his motivational techniques seemed like a downgrade.
However, it may have been what La Franja just needed as Puebla has looked very distinct since the arrival of “Chelis”. Since Jose Luis Sanchez Sola took charge, Los Camoteros have only lost one game and have only conceded two goals.
Puebla has a record of three wins, two draws and just one loss, which came to Club America at the Estadio Azteca. La Franja has some very impressive results in this run like a scoreless draw against Monterrey away from home and a recent 4-0 win against Lobos BUAP.
The team has regained its identity with “Chelis” and is now eighth in the Liga MX 2019 Clausura with 19 points. The fans are very happy and attendance numbers have improved as the best turnouts at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc this season have come with “Chelis” in charge.
Puebla is not a lock to make the playoffs as it does have a tough schedule to end the season with away games against Chivas and Club Tijuana. However, it also has two consecutive games at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc against Monarcas Morelia and Leon and can end up being a surprise in this 2019 Clausura.
Puebla has a talented squad with players like Canadian international Lucas Cavallini and Colombian fullback Bryan Angulo. The squad also has players that seem to have improved with “Chelis” like Pablo Gonzalez, Jesus Zavala and Nestor Vidrio.
The team seems to be motivated and it has been playing very structured and composed with “Chelis”. Sanchez Sola’s staff has also had its influence as Damian Zamogilny and Octavio Becerril handle a lot of the tactical aspect of the game.
Giving a manager his fourth stint with a team is very unconventional, especially when parting ways with someone like Enrique Meza, but it may just have been the perfect switch.
