Guido Pizarro (blue shirt) interacts with fans as Tigres gets ready to depart on April 25, 2017, for the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League final, second leg at Pachuca. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, Mexico – Tigres head coach Ricardo Ferretti is hopeful that midfielder Guido Pizarro will be available to play in the second leg of the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League final on Wednesday against host Pachuca.
The Argentine suffered a fractured nose in last Tuesday’s series opener that ended in a 1-1 draw and missed a 1-0 Liga MX loss at Monterrey on the weekend.
“To think today that Guido is going to play on Wednesday is difficult,” Ferretti said Monday. “He is in recovery. For Wednesday’s match, which starts at nine at night, we have two-and-a-half days, more or less, and we are going to monitor his progress.”
Over the last two years, Pizarro has been a staple of Tigres’ runs to the 2015/16 and 2016/17 SCCL finals.
The 27-year-old played in all six knockout stage matches last year and, thus far, has appeared in six times during the current edition. All told, UANL is an impressive 6W-4D-2L when Pizarro takes part in a SCCL game.
Ferretti noted that a final decision on the midfield lynchpin will be made just hours before the contest.
“He has been doing side work and has been improving in that aspect,” finished the 63-year-old. “I have to wait [Tuesday] and part of Wednesday and then before the match make a decision in conjunction with the player.”