Pumas manager Efrain Juarez embraced his mother and children at Estadio Olimpico Universitario on May 24, 2026, before the Liga MX Clausura 2026 second-leg final against Cruz Azul.
The pre-game ritual unfolded as fans cheered Juarez, who set a record-breaking points total with the club this season.
The club aims to end a 15-year domestic title drought, having last won the championship in the Clausura 2011 tournament.
Either Juarez or Cruz Azul manager Joel Huiqui will become the first Mexican coach to win the league title in six years, following Nacho Ambriz with Leon in 2020.
Juarez previously secured the Clausura 2009 championship with Pumas as a player under manager Tuca Ferretti.
The current manager reached the final after Pumas secured a 1-0 semifinal victory over Pachuca, advancing due to their superior regular season seeding after a tied aggregate score.
Following the semifinal victory, Juarez bypassed security protocols to celebrate with his son in the stands.
The manager addressed critics during the post-match press conference regarding his team's strategic approach and performance during the away leg of the semifinal series.
"These moments (of pressure) are the ones I enjoyed the most. When everything is against you, that's when you show your character.
Today everything is happiness, but in those moments it's the character as a coach and person," said Juarez.
The manager expressed appreciation for the external skepticism directed at his squad during their postseason run.
Juarez emphasized that his team remained focused on their preparation despite outside commentary.
"So much is said from outside, and I thank the opponents because it was fuel. Feel part of this path, of this process.
We will turn it around because my group trained and they talked more and more. Time will tell.
What is Caesar's is Caesar's and what is God's is God's," said Juarez.
Juarez defended the capabilities of his roster against criticism regarding their collective experience. Pumas entered the championship series as the top-seeded team from the Liguilla phase.
"You have to understand that these are 180-minute matches. For us, the series was defined in Pachuca.
It was a game to come here and do the job. The final pass was missing.
The team generated and was a protagonist.
I heard many times during the week that they criticized our way of playing in Pachuca and that youth is not at odds with experience," said Juarez.
Pachuca reached the semifinal stage under manager Esteban Solari following an inconsistent start to their campaign.
Juarez adjusted the Pumas starting lineup throughout 2025 and 2026 to secure their placement in the final.
