3 In A Row For Universidad Católica
Los Cruzados continue to dominant Chilean football and there is no reason it won't last.
For the first time in their 83-year history, Universidad Católica have won the Chilean title for the third consecutive time.
It is a feat that their big rivals Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile had achieved before them so there is a pride in the Católica fanbase that they have joined them.
Only the historically dominant Colo-Colo have managed it more than once and they remain the only side to have won four in a row, but both of these records are now in the sights of Los Cruzados who look well set to carry on their dominance.
Furthermore, Católica’s latest three titles have all been over the course of a whole year rather than the Apertura/Clausura system that saw two titles handed out within a year, which is how Colo-Colo and La U last achieved this feat.
Although it is worth noting that Colo-Colo’s first set of three consecutive titles came in a long-format season too. That run occured between 1988 and 1991 and culminated in Chile’s only ever success in the Libertadores.
Additionally, Universidad de Chile’s domestic dominance under Jorge Sampaoli between 2011-12 saw them lift the Sudamericana and reach the semi-finals of the Libertadores on the continental stage.
Such highs are unlikely to be reached by this Católica side, but it does show they need to try and really make a mark on continental competition this year to be mentioned alongside those great sides of Chilean club football.
The Libertadores group stage draw has been tough on them in recent editions so they’ll be hoping for better luck this time around to give them a greater chance of a run in South America’s most important competition.
Their 2020 season had been hampered by various factors (mostly pandemic related) that left manager Ariel Holan bemoaning the lack of time on the training ground to fully implement his style and system as well as suffering a series of injuries to key players.
Meanwhile the sale of Chile international attacking midfielder César Pinares harmed their attacking output at the business end of the season and arguably cost them a run to the final in the Copa Sudamericana too.
Yet, overall this feels like a club very much on the up and a sudden drop from competing at the top of Chilean football feels improbable.
If they can persuade Holan to stay on for another year (he’s been linked to Libertadores finalists Santos) then next season should offer him the chance to really push this squad onto new heights.
Given their proven squad depth, they will start the 2021 season as firm favourites to make it four titles in a row despite having to balance any Libertadores commitments.
Católica’s success is much owed to the management of the club from the top. However, it hasn’t been based on building around a certain playing style, but rather an emphasis on keeping a core unit of players in the club and then allowing whoever the manager is to build around them.
The leaders of this squad are goalkeeper Matias Dituro, midfielder Luciano Aued, playmaker Diego Buonanotte and the ever highly functional and versatile Jose Pedro Fuenzalida.
All have been crucial to the side for this terrific run of domestic dominance. The latter two of those four were even at the club for the back-to-back titles won in 2016.
Moreover academy products Ignacio Saavedra (3 league titles) and Raimundo Rebolledo (5 league titles) know very little else other than winning the league since their introductions to the side.
These players have had to take on a set of instructions from three very different managers in the last three years in three very different circumstances.
Current boss Ariel Holan demands high-intense attacking play while Spaniard Beñat San José who started the run was overly defensive, and for many his exit was a relief despite the title success. Between them was Gustavo Quinteros, now battling relegation with Colo-Colo, who bridged the gap between the two styles with a balanced style of play but left for Tijuana in Mexico — something I imagine he now regrets.
One reason why the Católica directors have not been too concerned by an overarching style of play was that their academy is now the best in the country at producing talent and there was a clear belief that they could work in any style of play, something encouraged at youth level.
In a recent game against Huachipato, eight players that had come through the Católica academy played in a match together. That level of faith in youth is pretty much unprecedented in Chile.
It is clear from the noises coming out of the club in the past few days that this is a club very united in ways that their biggest rivals are most certainly not at the moment. Players and staff, together with their families have spoken in recent days of how happy everyone is even in more challenging times.
Investment in the future remains strong and will likely contribute to further continued success. Top scorer Fernando Zampedri, who had been on loan from Rosario Central, has now joined Los Cruzados on a permanent basis while Chilean international midfielder Felipe Gutierrez is coming back to the club to star next season. There’s even been talk of club legend and national hero Gary Medel returning to the club.
It’s not just on the field where investment remains strong. In December last year the club announced plans to modernise their current stadium (they are part of a select few that actually fully own their own stadium), which would see capacity increase to 20,000 and facilities to host various events which would maximise revenue streams.
Even though Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile are likely to remain much more popular, the continued growth and appeal of Universidad Catolica should not be easily ignored, especially when the project they have in place shows little sign of abating.
For years Católica have been the butt of many jokes about always finishing second, yet such lines have little relevance anymore.
Their core support is said to come from rich neighbourhoods (their ground is in one of the richest areas of Chile), but it has always been the case that plenty of their fans can be found in the more working class districts up and down the country too.
There are examples in many countries of bigger clubs becoming too complacent and then within a decade or two finding themselves overtaken by rival clubs in terms of both trophies and support. Colo-Colo are safe for a long time on both counts, yet it feels like Universidad de Chile can be caught on trophies at least.
You can grow your club many ways, but one way to ensure an increase in supporters is by being successful.
My 6-year-old son has a best friend who supports Católica and lives in our very modest neighbourhood in Peñalolén, Santiago. When my son asked him why he supported Los Cruzados he said: “because they are first and always win”.
Católica’s rivals beware.
…
Stats Zone (with 33 of 34 rounds played)
8 sides took more shots than Católica over the course of the season, but crucially no side scored more goals. This owed a lot to the fact UC got a better percentage of shots on target and had a better xG (expected goals - a measure of the quality of chances created) total than the rest of the league.
Defensive numbers were key - only Universidad de Chile (a much more defensive side) conceded fewer goals while Palestino were the only side to limit the amount of shots against better than UC managed.
No side won more penalties than UC - 13 in total
No side had more possession on average than UC - 58.1%.
…
If you have enjoyed this reading this then please consider tipping me or sharing the article. You can always just subscribe too if you haven’t already.