Keylor Navas faces Cruz Azul: “We owe the fans a win”

Keylor Navas stood in front of Mexican reporters with a rare calm. If not for the memory of the Clausura 2026 final, no one would have guessed he had just endured a bitter evening with Pumas. Cruz Azul lifted the trophy in front of him, while the Costa Rican goalkeeper watched the title slip away. Asked about that memory, Navas did not hide. He said: “The past can't be changed. There is no thorn, no nothing. We didn't achieve the objective of being champions, they won, and that's what the reality is. Every match is a new opportunity, I hope we can win this one.” For Navas, the story closed when the referee blew the final whistle. He did not deny the pain but refused to let it run the present. “Spending energy and focus on things that won't change makes no sense for us. We are working hard to turn the situation around,” he added. The match against Cruz Azul is therefore a major test. Cruz Azul is not just the team that beat Pumas in the final; they also arrive with better form, more consistency and more confidence. Pumas, by contrast, have struggled at home. Matches at Pedregal have not produced the expected points, increasing pressure on coach Esteban Solari. A bad result against Cruz Azul could fuel more doubt, while a win could change the atmosphere around Ciudad Universitaria. Pumas's main comfort lies in their squad. After several rounds of patchwork teams, Solari is about to welcome back key players. Navas admitted the return matters: “When the team is complete, you are calmer because you have more options. This match gives us that relief of seeing every position filled, helping us work properly with a full squad.” The return of regular starters improves not only the quality on the pitch but also the mood in the dressing room. Another bright spot is César Huerta. The player nicknamed “Chino” has just arrived and already made an impact. Navas had warm words for him: “For us, Chino Huerta is a great joy to have with us. He shows commitment and love for this institution.” In a squad that needs new energy, a player who gives his heart to the shirt can be a more valuable piece than any tactical adjustment. The most interesting part of the interview, however, was not about the match. Navas openly defended coach Esteban Solari, who has faced criticism because of inconsistent results. The 39-year-old goalkeeper stressed: “The message needs to be clear. Responsibility belongs to everyone, not just the coaching staff. We are the players, we make mistakes and we accept that on the pitch. We are happy with the coaching staff, we see improvements in our way of playing. On Sunday we will go out to back him, give people joy and make the fans proud of this club.” A captain publicly supporting his coach during a crisis is not a given. Navas did not offer empty encouragement; he placed responsibility on the players. That action has a double effect. For the board, it shows the dressing room is still united. For the fans, it sends the message that Pumas's problems are not only on the coaching bench. It also sets a new standard: players can no longer blame the coach for poor results because they have acknowledged they are part of the problem. Navas also spoke about the future, even though he does not want his life to revolve around it. His contract with Pumas was signed in March for one year, with an option to extend for another season. Asked whether he will stay long term, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper who won three consecutive Champions League titles simply smiled. He said: “I live day by day, week by week, match by match. A person sees one page of the book, but God sees the whole book. I am grateful for the chance to be here, to train and to enjoy what I love. Time will put everything in its place.” That answer could be seen as wisdom from an experienced player. But it also leaves a big question: Are Pumas building their future around a goalkeeper in the final stretch of his career? Navas did not offer an answer. He preferred to keep things simple: every training session and every match is a chance to fulfill his role. For a club craving stability, that attitude matters as much as any contract. The match against Cruz Azul, then, is not only about the league table. It will show whether Pumas are truly heading in the right direction under Solari, whether Huerta can become a new symbol of the club, and whether Navas can turn pain into motivation. He says there is no “thorn” left. But the fans are still there; they have not forgotten the final. They are waiting for a performance that will prove that defeat was just one page, not the entire story. Navas wants to live in the present. He gives the future to God, as he put it. But for those who love the blue and gold of Pumas, the next chapter must be written with sweat on the pitch, starting on a difficult afternoon at Pedregal.