Cautiously Optimistic: Querétaro Win, Saint-Maximin Signing & Tigres Preview Feat. La U Times Podcast
Club América finally has three points on the board, a clean sheet, and a marquee new signing. But as the latest episode of The Eagle Eye Podcast makes clear, the mood is best described in two words repeated throughout the show: cautiously optimistic.
In this episode, Ivan Pineda and Dylan Jimenez break down the 1–0 victory over Querétaro, react to the long-awaited signing of Alan Saint-Maximin, affectionately dubbed Mr. Gucci Man and look ahead to a massive road test against Tigres with special guest Luis from the La U Times Podcast.
Alan Saint-Maximin Joins Las Águilas
After days of speculation, América officially announced the arrival of French winger Alan Saint-Maximin on August 12. The club kept things quiet even after his arrival in Mexico, but now the deal is sealed and the 28-year-old will wear the number 97 jersey.
“I love that word cautiously optimistic,” Ivan said on the pod. “It’s the perfect way to describe this signing.”
Saint-Maximin brings pace, creativity, and the ability to open up low-block defenses, something América desperately needs. Dylan praised the move as “a piece of the puzzle we’ve been missing,” though both hosts acknowledged the adaptation period ahead: new league, new language, and a new lifestyle.
Querétaro Victory: Three Points, But Questions Remain
The 1–0 win over Querétaro was delayed by an electrical storm, but América eventually grabbed their first Liga MX win of the season and a rare clean sheet. Ramón Juárez and Igor Lichnovsky anchored a back line that limited danger, while Malagón had a relatively quiet night in goal.
Dylan leaned toward the glass-half-full view:
“We still haven’t lost in the league, and three points are crucial — especially before a stretch of big games.”
Ivan, however, wanted more:
“I expected a better result… We could have put it away early and given youngsters more minutes.”
The performance showed progress, but the lack of killer instinct left the hosts wanting sharper execution ahead of tougher opponents.
Tigres Preview with La U Times Podcast
Saturday’s trip to the Volcán is América’s first real Liga MX test of the season. Tigres are red-hot — 19 goals in their last five matches, and come off a 7–0 thrashing of Puebla.
Luis from the La U Times Podcast gave the Tigres perspective:
“Historically, we haven’t done very good against América. This is one of those games where you put your best eleven out.”
Key battles to watch include América’s wingers versus Tigres’ fullbacks and how the Azulcrema back line handles Tigres’ aerial threat, led by striker Nico Ibáñez. With América vulnerable on set pieces, avoiding cheap fouls in dangerous areas will be critical.
Tactically, Ivan and Dylan debated whether Jardine should stick with a 4-3-3 or deploy a back five. Both preferred a more proactive approach, trusting the attack to test Tigres rather than sitting deep.
Score Predictions
Luis: Tigres 3–2 América – “I think it’ll be high-scoring and back-and-forth.”
Dylan: 2–2 Draw – “Still undefeated in the league, so I’ll stay cautiously optimistic.”
Ivan: América 1–0 Tigres – “A scrappy late winner that sparks controversy, but three points all the same.”
Final Thoughts
From Querétaro’s storm-delayed win to the Gucci-Man signing and a looming showdown in Monterrey, this episode captures the mix of relief, excitement, and realism around Club América right now. The optimism is there — just with a healthy dose of caution.