The Apertura 2026 has turned into a nightmare for Tigres UANL. After four rounds of Liga MX action, the Monterrey-based club has managed just a single point—a draw and three defeats—matching their worst start in over a decade. The latest setback came in Round 4, a painful loss to Atlas that left the team near the bottom of the table and fans in the stands of the Estadio Universitario shaking their heads in disbelief.
The interim coaching tandem of Hernán Elizondo and Carlos Turrubiates is feeling the heat. Their tenure began with an early exit from the Leagues Cup, where Tigres failed to win a single match in regulation time. Now, the domestic campaign has followed suit, exposing a squad that looks disjointed at the back and toothless going forward. The lack of defensive solidity and offensive creativity has become a recurring theme, and the club's front office is reportedly growing restless.
A familiar low, but a different era
One point from twelve available is a number that echoes in Tigres' recent history. The last time they started this poorly was during the Apertura 2015, when they also collected just one point from their first four matches. That season, however, ended in glory: the team engineered a remarkable turnaround starting in Week 5, qualified for the playoffs, and lifted the league trophy. Supporters are clinging to that memory, but the current situation is far from a mirror image.
The 2015 squad was built on a foundation of elite leadership. That summer, the front office pulled off one of the most successful transfer windows in Mexican football history, bringing in French striker André-Pierre Gignac, Javier Aquino, and young prospect Jurgen Damm. They joined a core that included Nahuel Guzmán, Juninho, Guido Pizarro, Joffre Guerrón, and Rafael Sobis. That concentration of talent and experience allowed the team to weather the early storm and eventually dominate the league.
Today's roster lacks that depth. The current interim staff is working with a group that has yet to find its identity, and the absence of a proven leader on the pitch is palpable. While the club has been linked with potential replacements—including Fernando Ortiz as a possible successor to Guido Pizarro—the immediate priority is to stop the bleeding.
Lessons from Clausura 2014
This isn't the first time Tigres have faced such a dire start. The Clausura 2014 remains the worst opening in the club's modern short-tournament history, when they collected just four points from seven matches. That campaign ended with a 14th-place finish and no playoff berth. But it also forced a comprehensive rebuild, leading to the arrival of key figures like goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán and a run to the Apertura 2014 final. That painful season ultimately paved the way for an unprecedented era of success.
Can the current squad replicate that kind of turnaround? The odds seem steeper. The 2014 rebuild was a deliberate, long-term project; the 2026 team appears to be in a state of flux, with interim managers trying to steady a ship that is taking on water. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial, and the pressure is mounting with each passing matchday.
For now, Tigres fans are left hoping that history repeats itself, but they know that this time, the margin for error is razor-thin. The club's leadership must act decisively—whether that means backing the interim duo or bringing in a new voice—before the season slips away entirely.
