Gabriel Milito was clear that he needed a central defender as reinforcement for Clausura 2026so the Chivas board began negotiations for Víctor Guzmán and Eduardo Águila. However, The positions of Monterrey and Atlético San Luis would have complicated both operationsso the Argentine strategist’s Plan B points directly home: Francisco Méndez, Tapatío defender who has been showing an increasing level in several tournaments, especially in the championship that has just concluded.
The first thing that stands out when observing Méndez is his imposing physiquesince at 1.86 meters tall usually wins in aerial duels and compete with an advantage against the forwards when the ball goes to the ground. Added to this is his good foot to play from the back or throw long passesone of Milito’s main demands, so, although he does not have the experience of Guzmán or Águila, Yes, he fully fits the profile requested by the Argentine coach..
As if that were not enough, the journalist César Huerta revealed that one of the qualities that most convinced Milito It is the versatility of the Bird. Méndez can play in several positionssomething that the strategist values greatly and that usually gives footballers an advantage to earn a place in the eleven. Although his natural position is as a left central defender, He can also play on the right or even as a liberowhich would allow him to take the place of any of the three defenders that Milito has used since his arrival.
The only disadvantage that, according to Huerta, Milito currently detects in Méndez that “it still needs to be polished”. However, this can also be interpreted as an area of opportunitysince the Argentine coach himself was an elite central defender during his time as a player, so has the ability to teach it, correct it and mold it in accordance with the specific needs of the Chivas First Team.
Gilberto Sepúlveda would also be part of Gabriel Milito’s Plan B in defense
Finally, in addition to Francisco Méndez, part of Gabriel Milito’s Plan B in the face of the clubs’ refusal to sell their defenses goes through maintaining Gilberto Sepúlveda. Although he had few minutes in the Apertura 2025, It is not ruled out by the Argentinesomething that is clear from the moment he was considered for the preseason, unlike other players who were completely left out, even though the board heard offers for him.
