Cruz Azul goalkeeper competition Andrés Gudiño Kevin Mier, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): The final stretch of the Apertura 2026 tournament is raising the demands on Cruz Azul. With the playoffs getting closer, the coaching staff is working to have options in every position and avoid any setback that could compromise the team’s performance.
One area receiving special attention is goal. Andrés Gudiño and Kevin Mier have both played in recent matches, a decision that has kept the competition between the two goalkeepers active.
The move does not appear to be merely a circumstantial substitution.
Coach Joel Huiqui wants both options to arrive at the most important stage of the championship with competitive rhythm, so the battle for the position remains open. The approach also has a recent precedent: when Mier suffered an injury, Gudiño had to take responsibility under the posts without having many prior minutes during the tournament.
Why is Huiqui rotating Kevin Mier and Andrés Gudiño at Cruz Azul? Over the last matchdays, Huiqui has spread opportunities between his two goalkeepers.
Kevin Mier defended the goal against León, while Andrés Gudiño received minutes against Querétaro and Pachuca. The decision aims to maintain internal competition and prepare both goalkeepers to respond when the team needs them during the final phase.
The coach explained that this strategy was discussed with both goalkeepers as well as with Carlos Nicolás, the staff member in charge of working with them. “At the end of the day, what I discussed with Andrés and Kevin, I also discussed with Carlos Nicolás, our goalkeeping coach, and it is a bit of this competition for the goal.”
Huiqui recalled that Gudiño already showed his ability when he had to fill in for Mier during the Colombian’s injury. He also highlighted the level Gudiño has shown in recent appearances.
“In Andrés’s case, the previous tournament was good; when Kevin was out injured, he did very well. Now that we have entered our matches before this last matchday, he did incredibly well.”
About Mier, the strategist acknowledged his experience despite his youth and noted that he also has international presence with the Colombian national team. Beyond the individual characteristics of each player, Huiqui stressed the bond between the two and the way they support one another in the locker room.
“Kevin is a Colombian international player with great experience; he is young, but experienced. For me, there is something I shared in the locker room, in the talk at the end before we left the previous match against León.
I told them I somewhat envied the brotherhood that goalkeepers have.”
For now, the coach has not publicly decided who will start the upcoming fixtures. The rotation allows Gudiño and Mier to remain active, while the decision on the starter for the playoffs remains open.
Will Willer Ditta be able to play against Tigres? Beyond the goalkeeping competition, Cruz Azul received positive news in defense.
Willer Ditta trained with the group during the week and will be available for the match against Tigres. The Colombian defender had been away from group activity after being stepped on on the fourth toe of his foot during the match against Pumas.
The blow caused swelling that prevented him from training normally in the following weeks.
After completing training without problems, the defender received the coaching staff’s approval to be considered for the next match. “Willen trained perfectly this week, no problem.
He is available to play as well,” Huiqui confirmed. The recovery gives the coach another option in an area of the field that will also be important in the closing stretch of the championship.
Cruz Azul is preparing to face Tigres with the possibility of recovering Ditta and with the competition between Gudiño and Mier still open. Huiqui’s priority will be having players ready to respond in the playoffs, regardless of who ends up holding the starting spot.
