Paul Aguilar

Mexico, Club America dealt big blow as Paul Aguilar tears ACL

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:36 p.m. ET

Ryan Rosenblatt

Mexico and Club America will be without Paul Aguilar for six months after the fullback tore his ACL and suffered meniscus damage in his right knee. Now both the national team and club will have to figure out how to manage until at least April without one of their most dependable players.

Aguilar has been in and out of the team for El Tri under Juan Carlos Osorio. He's one of the team's options at right back, with Miguel Layun the other dependable option. Luis Fuentes and Jesus Duenas are also considerations, but neither is really dependable or really someone that Osorio wants to have to lean on. That essentially leaves just Layun, which is a problem because Osorio also likes to use him at left back often and sometimes in the midfield too. Now Osorio either has to go to one of his weaker right backs or leave Layun there, potentially hurting the team elsewhere. Not having as many options will be a real blow to Osorio, even more so than most managers, because of his rotation policy.

The timing of Aguilar's injury isn't great for Mexico either. They play the United States on November 11 in a crucial World Cup qualifier and follow that up with a trip to Panama so they have back-to-back tough away matches. They also play Costa Rica in a March World Cup qualifier, which Aguilar will almost assuredly miss as well, so his absence could hurt El Tri in a difficult part of qualifying.

Club America will miss Aguilar even more. He is one of their best players and America are already dealing with enough turnover following the dismissal of manager Ignacio Ambriz and hiring of Ricardo La Volpe. They are fourth in the Apertura, but only four points from falling out of a Liguilla place.

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