Miguel Layún takes América's Liguilla 'failure' on the chin | OneFootball

Miguel Layún made no attempt to dress up the disappointment of América’s quarter-final defeat to Pumas on Saturday.

The Azulcrema were favourites to progress after securing a 0-0 draw away to their Clásico Capitalino rivals in the first leg in midweek.

But it all fell to pieces at the Estadio Azteca as the hosts blew an early lead afforded to them by an Emanuel Aguilera penalty to lose on a 3-1 scoreline.

It was a brutal end to a season that had promised so much after Las Águilas had finished comfortably top of the Apertura table.

“That it is a failure, of course it is a failure. We would be stupid if we did not know that it is a failure because the objective was not to be in the quarter-finals but to be champions,” Layún said, per TUDN.

“It was not achieved and the word is what it is.”

The veteran defender believes that América’s regular-season form should not be completely forgotten, but accepted that ultimately it is what happens in the Liguilla that matters most.

“Now we have to face the fans, apologise to them because they are always at the foot of the cannon and are always supporting us, encouraging us and we could not give them what the institution is and its essence,” Layún added.

América released an official statement on social media after the game, which said “the Board will take the next three weeks to evaluate the short and medium-term sports project.”

This is the second season in a row they have exited at the last-eight stage under manager Santiago Solari.