Club America star Cuauhtémoc Blanco is hoping and praying, in spite of injuries, to continue playing in order to help his team make the Clausura ‘06 playoffs.

Last Saturday, Blanco, whose exclusion from the national team has caused a public outcry, left the game (a 1-0 loss at Atlante) holding on to his left leg, yet team doctor Alfonso Diaz stated Blanco has a right hip flexor.

Diaz assured it’s not an injury but only muscular fatigue due to the intense physical toll of the season for the Eagles forward, and that he has already improved 40 percent.

“I hope God gives me the opportunity to get to Sunday and play,” said Blanco. “Even if I had been playing injured all season I would want to play.”

Dijo que esta desición es "por ayudar al equipo que no está bien. Creo que sí necesito un descanso, pero primero tengo que pensar en el partido del domingo, ganarlo y ver qué pasa con los demás equipos". He added that all he wants to do is “help the team, which isn’t doing well.”

“I do feel I need a rest, but first I have to think about Sunday’s game, win it and see what happens with the other teams.”

The Eagles will play their final regular season game at home at Azteca Stadium versus a Monterrey side with a losing record. They need to win and hope for other contenders to lose in order to reach the quarterfinals.

“I had never been hurt so much before,” said the 32-year-old Mexican striker. “But I’m not going to get desperate, on the contrary, I’m going to stay calm and do whatever I can to help the team.”

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