León coach explains James decision amid Colombia star’s uncertain future
Amid question marks over his León future, James Rodríguez was substituted in the Liga MX team’s defeat to Atlas.
“We’re no longer in control - we’re relying on a lot of other results.” Ignacio Ambriz didn’t mince words. The León head coach laid bare the uphill battle his team faces in their bid to reach the next stage of Liga MX. James Rodríguez started the match, but was subbed off in the 60th minute - a tactical decision aimed at injecting more verticality into the attack.
“A tactical adjustment”
With León’s Apertura 2025 playoff hopes hanging by a thread, James’ future at the club looks increasingly uncertain. He started against Atlas but played just 15 minutes in the second half before Ambriz replaced him with Ismael Díaz. The coach insisted the move was purely tactical.
“It was a tactical adjustment. We’ve had a lot of games back-to-back, so you start managing minutes,” Ambriz explained. “We wanted more verticality, that back-and-forth rhythm Atlas forces you into. These are tactical moves you have to make to find another option, but it didn’t work from the start.”
He added: “They’re very important players, and I understand people asking why I took James off. But these are tactical decisions - you try different variations, and today the team just didn’t perform.”
León’s path to the postseason is now out of their hands. “It’s slipping away - that’s what we were worried about. We’re no longer in control, we’re relying on a lot of other results,” Ambriz admitted. “There are three games left, and we have to show up.” León sits four points outside the play-in zone and faces a brutal stretch against Pumas, Club América and Puebla.
The coach also acknowledged the psychological toll of the team’s winless streak. “Five games without a win and if you get into the habit of not winning, the team begins to lose confidence,” he said. “Now it’s about putting in the work and focusing on Pumas, which will be a very tough match.”
Ambriz concluded with a note of cautious optimism: “It’d be premature to talk like it’s over. We have to respect the fact that there are still three games left. Hopefully I can find the right formula and we can take all nine points - that would be ideal.”
James influence on the wane
Despite scoring more goals in the Apertura (three) than in the Clausura, James’ overall offensive impact has dipped. In the first half of the year, he was involved in nine goals. His contract runs through December, and there’s been no talk of a renewal. With the World Cup on the horizon, the Colombian star needs consistent minutes to stay sharp - and the next few months could be decisive.
For now, James is preparing for Saturday’s clash at the Nou Camp, where León will host Pumas.
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