Pumas' Defensive Collapse: The 23-Goal Secret Hidden in Solari's System

On the night of August 16, when the scoreboard froze at 0-0 against Querétaro at Ciudad Universitaria, nobody would have guessed this would be Pumas UNAM's last clean sheet. Ten matches since. Ten matches, not a single clean sheet. In this Clausura 2026 season of Liga MX, Pumas have now conceded 23 goals—the previous tournament's figure was 17, when their defense was the second-best in the league. This decline is not just about numbers; it's the story of a system that hasn't yet settled. What makes Pumas' crisis even more puzzling is when you turn the page and find that the back four is the same as last tournament. This is where my ledger opens. If the players are the same, why has the concession rate nearly doubled? How did a defense that conceded 17 last season reach 23 now? The answer likely lies in Esteban Solari's system, which the team is struggling to adapt to. Since Solari's appointment, the team hasn't found rhythm, and the defensive structure hasn't stabilized. This isn't a case of giving new signings time—because there are no new signings. It's a coaching transition where old players can't digest new instructions. In the Liga MX matches I've watched over the past few years, one pattern has been clear: when a team goes ten consecutive matches without a clean sheet, the problem is often collective imbalance rather than individual errors. In Pumas' case, neither xGA nor PPDA data is available, nor set-piece goals conceded. But what's visible is that the defensive block keeps breaking. That last clean sheet against Querétaro is proof the foundation exists—but the ten-match gap has made it a sustained pattern. The biggest challenge of Solari's system is that it's neither fully pressing-based nor fully deep-block. The team is stuck in between. When it holds a high line, it's exposed in transition; when it sits deep, it fails to play out from midfield. This is the biggest cause of defensive instability—a system that hasn't yet built its identity. How did the same defense that conceded 17 last tournament reach 23 now? Because the previous setup had clarity, and now that clarity is broken. There's another aspect often overlooked. Pumas have scored 20 this season and conceded 23. Negative goal difference. With three matches left in the Liguilla race, this gap directly affects top-8 hopes. But judging the team as simply bad based on defensive numbers alone would be an incomplete conclusion. Some reports suggest gradual improvement. But without points or xG, measuring this "improvement" is difficult. Is it really in the defensive structure, or just in scoring ability? If improvement is only in attack, the defensive problem remains. One more fact is essential. Pumas' previous tournament was defensively strong—17 conceded, second in the league. Even Toluca was conceding one fewer. Meaning when the setup was clear, the same players performed better. Now the setup has changed, and performance has dropped. This directly points to coaching and system, not player ability. But here I want to raise a question perhaps nobody has asked. Did Solari get enough time to change this system? In Liga MX, after a coaching change, teams often need a full tournament. Pumas don't have that time—three matches left, and the Liguilla door is closing. Pressure on Solari is natural. If the team misses Liguilla, management and fan anger will fall directly on him. But blaming only the coach would be unfair, because the defensive problem has deeper roots—tied to player confidence. Going ten consecutive matches without a clean sheet becomes a mental burden. When the same defenders concede every match, their confidence breaks. This is where things worsen. The defense that was confident last tournament now plays under pressure. Solari must manage not only tactics but also morale. Now the question: is there a way back for Pumas? Three matches, each a final. If Solari simplifies the defensive structure—dropping the high line, playing deeper, staying cautious in transition—a clean sheet might return. But if he sticks to his system, the concession streak may continue. When I first started watching Liga MX in college, I thought defensive numbers were just numbers. But now I understand every goal has a story—sometimes coaching, sometimes confidence, sometimes system. Pumas' story isn't over. Three matches left, and the Liguilla dream is alive. But if the defensive framework doesn't improve, it will remain just a dream. Finally, a question every Pumas fan should ask: will Solari get until next season, or will three matches decide his future? This defensive collapse story isn't just about 23 goals—it's also about the patience that's becoming rare in modern football.