Re-building Tigres

Data from Wyscout, FBRef, Golstats and Fotmob, photo from Marca.

Whilst most of the focus is on liguilla, the majority of Liga MX sides are already thinking about next season. In this series of articles, I’ll analyze the current situation of a few teams, their squads, and profiles that they should be looking at to improve in the future. The second team up is Tigres.

This article/series is inspired by articles from https://www.thetransferflow.com/

The situation

Tigres are suffering an identity crisis. Veljko Paunovic attempted to create a more direct, intense team, a change from “Tuca” Ferretti’s years in charge, whilst Guido Pizarro arrived with the intention to return to a higher possession side.

However, this intention only last four matches. After a few games playing with much more patience on the ball, Tigres have returned to a style more similar to Paunovic’s in possession approach.

Pizarro has also adjusted the formation, starting with a 3-4-3, but using a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 in the final games of the season.

The disappointing Tigres season, ultimately, is the result of an underperforming attack. Tigres have been intense and effective out of possession, but their xG for is only slightly above league average. If Pizarro’s going to compete for titles, the attack must improve.

Red bar = Worse ranking in the league. Green bar = Better ranking in the league. The numbers in the bars refer to the percentile ranks. For some defensive metrics, like xG or PPDA, a higher percentile rank shows a worse performance.

Goalkeepers: Another year of Guzmán

The strongest position in the Tigres squad right now. Nahuel Guzmán is still playing at a high level and has extended his contract for another year. Carlos Felipe Rodríguez is a good backup, whilst we’ll see if Tigres decide to sign Fernando Tapia permanentely, and if he stays on the bench or goes on loan.

Center-backs: Is another back-up needed?

Tigres have good options to switch between a back-three or four, particularly thanks to Jesús Angulo, who can play as the left-center-back or as a defensive full-back. Angulo’s a key part of their ball progression and deep build-up.

Joaquim isn’t as good on the ball, but is highly effective in defensive duels, and is the most dangerous Liga MX center-back at set-pieces. Juan José Purata is the player who’s benefitted most from the change in head coach, with 990 of his 1002 minutes this season coming under Pizarro. Purata has some limitations, but playing in the center of a back-three has made the most of his ability in build-up and aerial strength.

According to transfermrkt, Diego Reyes’ contract ends this summer, and he should be allowed to leave given his age and recent performances. Therefore, the only doubt at center-back is if Tigres want to find another back-up, or use players like Romulo, Eduardo Tercero and Rafael Guerrero.

Full-back/Wing-backs: Is Lainez the solution, or Sanabria?

Javier Aquino’s longevity is highly impressive. Aquino’s now 35 years old, but has adapted extremely well to the full-back position, and combines a key role in ball progression with good reading of the game out of possession to know when to press, and create more turnovers. However, there’s an issue if Pizarro wants to play with a back-three and wing-backs, and if Tigres need to develop their attack. Aquino’s attacking output has dropped, which is to be expected given his age, and the physical demands of trying to get into dangerous attacking spaces.

Jesús Garza can replace Aquino in the long-term, and suits the wing-back role, given his physical capabilities. Garza has played more on the left this season, despite being right-footed, and his attacking creativity could develop further by being positioned on his natural side.

Therefore, the left side is more important for Tigres to look at. Angulo and Osvaldo Rodríguez don’t do enough going forwards to play as wing-backs, whilst Fernando Ordóñez stood-out in the academy, but hasn’t played much in Liga MX. I would look for a loan or a sale with a buy-back option in the next two years. Ordóñez isn’t going to improve on the bench or in the U23 league.

Pizarro tried Diego Lainez as a left-wing-back, which does make sense to me. Since returning from Europe, Lainez hasn’t produced enough in the final third to be an attacking starter for a team with title aspirations. However, he’s a great ball carrier and works hard out of possession.

This makes him a great candidate to be converted to a wing-back, but if Tigres don’t have to patience to work on his adaptation, there’s a player who would instantly improve the left side, San Luis’ Juan Manuel Sanabria. He’d use up a foreign player spot, but it’s a great way of increasing Tigres’ attacking creativity, and can play in a back-four or back-five.

Midfielders: A new pivot required

As I had predicted, the signing of Romulo Zwarg has lead to squad-building problems for Tigres. Romulo was signed for Paunovic’s style, with high intensity out of possession but a lack of quality on the ball. He isn’t the type of holding midfielder required if Pizarro wants to re-create a high possession side. By failing to consider the medium-to-long-term, Tigres have spent $5m, and used up a foreign player spot, on a player that doesn’t solve anything.

Tigres have to accept the error now, and whilst it would be difficult to recover the whole investment, it’s best to look for a quick sale or a loan move for Romulo.

20-year-old Bernardo Parra isn’t yet a complete holding-midfielder, but is one of Tigres’ most stand-out academy products in recent years, and showed his abilities on the ball in more than 500 minutes played this season. Tigres only passed the young minutes rule by six minutes, and therefore it seems that Parra will need to continue to receive opportunities next season.

Rafael Carioca will be 36 in a month, and looks set to leave when his contract expires. Statistically, Carioca still stands-out in Liga MX and there are many case of holding-midfielders prolonging their careers, if the physical demands aren’t too high, as passing ability and game intelligence can continue to develop beyond 30. In a high possession team, Carioca is still an excellent pivot, and maintains a high defensive impact. Letting him go may not be the best decision, although Tigres may have in-house physical data that shows a concerning decline.

A new defensive-midfielder is a priority for Tigres going into Apertura 2025, and here are my options, depending on what Tigres are looking for from the player’s profile.

The Liga MX option

José Luis Caicedo has developed into a key player for Pumas in recent seasons, and is still only 22-years-old, therefore is yet to reach his peak age.

Caicedo is effective in build-up play, but doesn’t stand-out in ball recoveries.

The experienced option

Allan, 28, is highly experienced in Brazil and Europe, but hasn’t played many minutes this season. Allan’s output is very similar to Carioca, not as intense to press the ball or contest duels, but he intercepts passes frequently and excels on the ball. Like Carioca, Allan could be the pivot that controls Tigres’ build-up, and keeps possession under pressure.

The long-term options

If Tigres want to invest in a medium-to-long-term solution for the role, there are two players to take a deeper look at. Bruno Leyes, 23, from Godoy Cruz…

…and César Araújo, 24, from Orlando City. Both could develop their defensive positioning and game intelligence, but offer more intensity out of possession.

The economic option

Jorman Campuzano’s loan with Atlético Nacional ends this summer, and he’ll return to Boca Juniors with just one more year on his contract. Campuzano will be 29 in April, and has been excellent and generating recoveries throughout his career. He isn’t as effective at completing progressive passes, but Campuzano is comfortable at playing an active role in build-up (receives more touches than Romulo), and could make simpler passes to Fernando Gorriarán and Juan Brunetta, who can move the ball upfield.

Attacking-midfielders: A lack of creativity

Whilst it isn’t 100% certain, it seems that Tigres will sign Ángel Correa from Atlético Madrid. There’s always a risk of signing older attacking-midfielders, especially if acceleration and pace have been key strengths during their careers, but Correa doesn’t appear to be another Lucas Ocampos case.

Correa is still a reliable goal-scorer, although the majority of his recent minutes have come from the bench. The Argentine played just 751 La Liga minutes this season, with three starts, and we’ll see how he adapts to being a starter once again, and if he could improve his creativity in Liga MX.

Correa would take the spot of the second striker in a 3-5-2 or would play on the right in a 3-4-3/4-3-3.

The main problem of the Correa signing is that he doesn’t appear to resolve the lack of creativity in Tigres’ attacking-midfield options. They have plenty to choose from, after investing in multiple Mexicans in recent years, but the majority of their attackers are more effective at getting their own shots off, than creating for teammates. For example, Marcelo Flores…

…Ozziel Herrera…

…Sebastián Córdova…

…even Argentine Juan Brunetta.

Meanwhile, Raymundo Fulgencio, like Lainez, doesn’t seem to do enough going forwards to be part of Tigres’ attack.

Different head coaches have made the error to not use Uriel Antuna more. Due to his poor technical execution in key moments, Antuna has become a highly underrated player. Antuna’s off ball movement is excellent, with his runs in-behind frequently getting him into high value positions.

But there don’t appear to be space for Antuna in the squad now, and his lack of defensive work-rate is a genuine concern. Correa, Herrera and Gorriarán are all good options on the right, whilst it makes sense to keep faith in Flores on the left and support his development. Combining with a left-wing-back that can underlap (like Sanabria) should help by allowing Flores to stay wider, where he can make the most of his dribbling ability.

Brunetta can also play from the left, with an overlapping wing-back, but Pizarro has preferred the Argentine positioned closer to his defensive line, to exploit his ball progression abilities. Córdova should be used as a back-up for Brunetta/Gorriarán in midfield, instead of being seen as an attacking option.

More creativity is required given the profiles of these attacking-midfielders, which creates more doubts over Javier Aquino’s role, and the striker…

Strikers: Time to sell Ibáñez?

The output of legend André-Pierre Gignac has dropped in recent seasons, and injuries have limited the French striker to just 81 minutes in Clausura 2025. It doesn’t appear that he can recover his past level, his lack of defensive work is a problem if Tigres want to press more (especially given Brunetta’s poor work-rate). Plus, Gignac shoots too often from distance, which can hurts Tigres’ xG creation.

However, Gignac’s been given a new contract, a decision which doesn’t convince me, and limits Tigres’ options this summer. To bring-in a new striker, Nicolás Ibáñez must leave.

Ibáñez’s attacking output has dropped dramatically this season, perhaps as a result of the lack of creativity in the Tigres squad, but it’s also possible that the Argentine has passed his peak age.

Rather than looking for a new Gignac, who consistently led Liga MX in shots per game, perhaps Tigres should look for a more creative striker? Someone who can drop-off, create space for the attacking-midfielders to attack, and with the passing ability to supply his teammates?

The stand-out option

Mateo Coronel from Atlético Tucumán seems a great fit. At 26-years-old, Coronel still has plenty of peak years ahead of him, and is not only a creative striker, but also frequently gets into dangerous scoring positions himself. At just 172cm tall, he’s not an aerial threat, but this shouldn’t be a major issue in a higher possession side. Plus, he’s effective at finding passing lanes to receive progressive passes in build-up and connect attacks.

The only concern is his lack of defensive work-rate in the past year. However, Coronel has contributed more out of possession in previous seasons.

The flexible option

River Plate may demand too high a fee for Facundo Colidio, but the 25-year-old would provide more flexibility for the Tigres attack, given that he can play as a central striker or from the left. Colidio isn’t as reliable a goal-scorer, but has improved his shot locations in recent seasons and is excellent out of possession.

The European option

If Tigres want to return to Europe to look for a striker, FC Twente’s Sam Lammers is striker with goals and creativity.

Whilst Alexandre Lacazette will be a free agent after ending his contract with Lyon. If Tigres can afford his salary demands, it’s worth exploring.

The long-term option

Finally, if Tigres want to take a higher-risk on a potential future star, Jerónima Dómina from Unión is worth a look. The 19-year-old profiles a bit closer to Gignac, given that he’s averaging over 3.7 shots per game in his previous two seasons, but has also shown an ability to help in build-up and create chances.

Dómina may also go a little under the radar right now, given that he hasn’t scored this season despite attempting 27 shots. Finishing doesn’t appear a huge issue though, as he scored four times from 21 shots last season.

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