Jesús Corona, Cruz Azul goalkeeper, to stay until 2023

José de Jesús Corona has become a legend for Cruz Azul fans. The goalkeeper since his arrival has demonstrated the commitment that a professional player must-have. After Cruz Azul was knocked out in the 2021 Apertura playoffs many questions come up to Cruz Azul fans and to the club board. Is Corona still playing his best football? What´s next for Cruz Azul goalkeeper position?

The questions come up due to the age of the professional player who will be 40 years old next January. Corona´s high age begins to be an issue for Celeste´s club. In fact, a year ago, Sebatián Jurado, a former Veracruz player, was hired to substitute Corona. However, the 24-year-old player has not been able to take the goalkeeper position in the starting lineup.

With a year and a half in the contract for Jesús Corona, manager Juan Reynoso must decide if Corona still plays as a starter or it’s time to give a chance to Sebastián Jurado, who is also considered a great goalkeeper.

Corona´s detractors

After the elimination against Monterrey, Corona was criticized by some analysts. Futbol Picante's program experts gave their points of view and carried out a dynamic in which they decided who would leave the club and who would stay. Not everyone came out well against sports analysts such as Francisco Gabriel de Anda, Mario Carrillo, and Mauricio Ymay.

Mario Carrillo criticized one of the club's legends. The coach stated that the goalkeeper of the team coached by Juan Reynoso no longer defends the goal as he should: "A goalkeeper has to save you. When your team is in bad shape, he has to save you, and lately, Corona has not saved his team. I hope he stays for many more years, but they have to think of someone to replace him".

Also, the third goalkeeper, Andrés Gudiño, has played in some matches. The doubt arises from the debate as to who will be the goalkeeper in whom Reynoso will place his trust for the next championship. For the time being, the three goalkeepers will remain in the team until further notice.

"Jurado has been playing for a long time, I hope they give him the alternative. As a starter, they have to think of someone better. Let Corona stay but not as a starter. Jurado, on the two previous times he played, did not perform better than Gudiño. They have to look for someone very safe and very good, above everyone else," said Carrillo.

On the other hand, former central defender, Paco Gabriel de Anda, had a different opinion to that of his teammate: "For me, he has to stay, let him stay. I don't know if he has to stay as a starter. Corona has earned something, you can't kick him out, he has to leave when he wants to. Jurado has to stay, but he is not a guarantee; I have not seen him in Cruz Azul the matches I would like to see".

Corona career at Cruz Azul

Jesús Corona joined the Cruz Azul squad for the 2009 Apertura tournament. Since that year, the goalkeeper has always been a starter except for the times he was injured. Even though Corona lost many finals with the club, also ended Cruz Azul's 23-year championship drought when at the time, they won it in 1997. On 1 June 2021.

Corona´s Achievements 

Copa MX Champion (Clausura 2013).

CONCACAF Champion (2014).

Clausura 2022 Liga MX Champion