GANDOLFI CONFIDENT TEAM WILL RECOVER

TIJUANA - Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles captain Javier Gandolfi made it clear. 

"We are at home and if we want to qualify we need to win," Gandolfi said about Club Tijuana's chances of clinching a spot in the 2015 Clausura playoffs. "I think this is the most important and decisive part of the tournament."

The Xoloitzcuintles don't have much time to get into the post season with two regular season matches remain. It's first shot at earning a slot in the eight - team LIGA MX post season is Friday night when it hosts Atlas FC in a Week 16 match at Estadio Caliente. 

Coach Daniel Guzman's squad hasn't won in five games and Gandolfi says it is time to change that. 

"We can't dwell on what has happen. We need to focus on what's next," Gandolfi said. "Which like I said, it is a decisive week."

Results have not been favorable for Club Tijuana after a fast start to the season. It went on a nine game unbeaten streak which allowed the Xoloitzcuintles to sit at the top of the league table for several weeks. Gandolfi hopes to recover against Atlas and get back on track and clinch a playoff spot while doing so. 

"I don't think that the team or the fans or anyone really was prepare for the struggle," Gandolfi said. "But it has happen, we are all big players, we are professionals and we want to overcome this. 

"We need to be relaxed, these are moments that no one prepares for. But we know that we have unity as a team and we keep working surely this weekend we'll turn things around." 

Gandolfi offered some self-evaluation. The veteran siad he along with his defensive teammates need to correct mistakes on the back line. 

"I think there are just small details to fix," Gandolfi said. "If you analyze the Toluca match, the goal that they scored in the first half. After they controlled the game a bit. But in the second half they didn't come near our goal very often but a deflected shot gives them the second chance. Like I said, they're just small details we have to fix. When you keep your goal at zero, then you give your team more opportunities to win." 

A win Friday against Atlas can put Club Tijuana in the playoffs. The Xoloitzcuinltes enter the match as the No. 5 team in the standings. 

"Anyone would be happy to be in fifth place of the table right now," Gandolfi said. "That means we are very close to the playoffs."