The Monterrey Rayados team suffered a setback by being eliminated in the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup by the Vancouver Whitecaps after drawing 2-2 in the return leg. This result put coach Martín Demichelis on the verge of being sacked, according to reports from Fox Sports. The management, led by Antonio Noriega, is said to have already decided to fire him, but they need to obtain the approval of the club's owners due to his three-million-dollar buyout clause.
There has been speculation about who could replace Demichelis on the Monterrey bench in the match this weekend against Pumas. Among the possible candidates, the name of Xavi Hernández has emerged as a real option. The former Spanish midfielder has a good relationship with the team owners, which increases the likelihood of his arrival. Xavi Hernández also has ties with the Spanish players on the team, such as Sergio Canales, Oliver Torres, and Sergio Ramos.
In addition to Xavi Hernández, other names like Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari have been considered as possible candidates to take over Rayados. Meanwhile, it is rumored that Nicolás Sánchez, a former center-back and champion with the team, could take on the role on an interim basis. This comes at a time when the team needs to find stability and recover from their recent elimination, which could mean drastic changes in the technical staff structure of the team.
