Guillermo Almada's rule at America: run or ride the bench

Run or sit out. That's how simple the rule is that Guillermo Almada put in place from the moment he arrived at Coapa, and that's how simply Alan Cervantes explained it at the press conference ahead of the match against FC Juarez. The midfielder, who already knew the Uruguayan coach from his time at Santos Laguna, laid out without hesitation the secret behind America's unbeaten start to the Apertura 2026 Tournament.

The formula? No tactical mysteries, no complicated whiteboards. Just intensity, sacrifice and running like there's no tomorrow. Cervantes put it plainly: on this America team, if you don't run, you don't play. Simple as that.

The main thing is the demands that Coach Almada works with. The reality is that whether you like his methods or not, here the guy who doesn't run, doesn't train, doesn't take care of himself, isn't going to play. And if you want to move forward in your career and at this club, you're going to have to do it.Alan Cervantes

What stands out is that America sits atop the overall standings without having been able to count on its full roster. That says a lot about a method that, according to Cervantes, has become almost a hallmark of the team's identity. It doesn't matter if people outside doubt the squad; inside the locker room the reading is different, and the midfielder had no trouble making that clear with a line that sums up the moment:

You can like it or not, but that level of demand matches the standing of this club, which has us where it has us even though, for a lot of people, the team isn't built to compete. We love this kind of thing because there's nothing better than shutting people up and proving them wrong.Alan Cervantes

Heading to Juarez with an eye on Borja

With preparations wrapped up, America flew this afternoon to the border city to face Bravos tomorrow in Matchday 5 of the tournament, looking to extend the unbeaten run that currently has them on top of the table.

While the squad was in the air headed to Juarez, another important chapter was unfolding back at Coapa: Miguel Borja showed up at 7:30 in the morning to undergo the medical and physical exams that mark the step before officially becoming an America player. Past 10:30 in the morning, the Colombian forward was still going through testing, a process that would continue with the contract signing and the first photos as the club's newest addition.

The plan is for Borja to travel over the weekend to sort out his work visa so he can be available to Almada starting Monday, August 24, if everything goes as expected. One more piece for a team that, for now, doesn't need a complete roster to sit on top of the table.