MEXICO CITY, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tigres UANL midfielder Fernando Gorriaran said Wednesday that his team would show utmost respect for Club America when the teams clash in the Liga MX Apertura final.
Reigning champions Tigres reached the trophy decider by beating Pumas UNAM in their semifinal, while Club America overcame San Luis in their last-four duel.
"We face the team that did things better in the regular phase and they have a great squad, but we are the champion team," Gorriaran told reporters, alluding to America's superb regular-season campaign that saw them finish seven points clear of second-placed Monterrey.
Tigres, aiming to become only the fourth team to win back-to-back Liga MX titles, was third in the season-ending standings, 10 points off the pace.
"This is a final that the fans expected to see a confrontation between the defending champions and the first-place getters in the regular phase," Gorriaran said.
The first leg of the final will be played at Tigres' Estadio Universitario in Monterrey on Thursday and the second leg at Mexico City's Azteca stadium on Sunday.
"It's going to be an even match and it's going to be decided by small details. Hopefully people will enjoy it," Gorriaran added. ■
