Chivas Leaders Speak Out After Elimination While Chicharito Remains Silent

Chivas suffered one of their most painful eliminations in recent years, falling 3–2 to Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals after taking the lead twice — and then watching Javier “Chicharito” Hernández send a decisive penalty over the bar in the 86th minute. The defeat ended Guadalajara’s tournament in brutal fashion, and while fans searched for answers, it was the team’s captains and veterans who stepped forward to speak.

Luis Romo was the first to address the moment. The captain delivered a message of pride, gratitude, and commitment to both the team and the fans. He insisted that the squad represented the club with dignity and will work harder to bring Chivas back to the level that the institution demands. Romo did not hide — he became the public face of the locker room after such an emotional blow.

Goalkeeper Raúl “Tala” Rangel also stepped up. He acknowledged the pain of the defeat but explained that the heartbreak exists because the players truly love the colors. He thanked the fans for their loyalty and vowed to return stronger. Other players such as Richard Ledezma, Alan Mozo, José Castillo, Dani Aguirre and Omar Govea added messages of support, trying to hold the group together and close the season with dignity. The stance of the team’s leaders showed a real effort to assume responsibility as a collective rather than as individuals.

The elimination hit the squad hard, but the words of Romo, Rangel and the rest aimed to reinforce unity and ensure that the narrative is not reduced solely to that missed penalty.

Meanwhile, Javier Hernández chose a different route. After heavy criticism for the failed spot-kick, he left the club’s training ground in Verde Valle without speaking to reporters. Chicharito acknowledged fans from his car, but never rolled down the window and offered no statements before driving away.

His silence stands in sharp contrast to the openness shown by other senior players, and Chivas now reflects on a season that ended with a dramatic and unexpected punch to the gut.