In 17 games of the Apertura 2010 Atlas won a grand total of 13 points and finished at the foot of the general table. Relegation was the talk around Guadalajara. Chivas fans ribbed Atlas fans about the prospect of the rojinegros going down.
Not many would've dared predict that Atlas, whose players almost went on strike last season due to unpaid wages, would be sitting pretty after winning their first three games of the Clausura 2011.
It's been no fluke. Fearing relegation for one of Mexico's oldest clubs, Director of Football Rafael Lebrija scoured the continent for talented individuals with experience. In came Miguel Pinto, Wilman Conde, Lucio Flavio Dos Santos, Elias Ribeiro de Oliveira, Lucas Ayala and Carlo Costly.
Pretty quickly it seems the squad have gelled and Costly hasn't even played yet.
Perhaps the biggest difference has been how evident it is Benjamin Galindo has the support of the dressing room that Atlas' recent coaches have failed to garner. Players run over to the bench to celebrate and the technical staff and players seem more united.
No player represents the change in attitude than 20-year-old Edgar Pacheco. The two-footed Guadalajara native has been playing exceptionally and running the game for Atlas. His potent long distant shot is only outmatched by an enthusiasm for the game and the club that seems to be rubbing off on Atlas' latest crop of foreigners. 
Now they have former hero Rafael Marquez back training with them in order to get fit for the upcoming national team games. That will be an extra boost for the players. The talk from Chivas fans now is that Atlas have started well but will falter as usual later in the tournament. Atlas fans are just happy that relegation is now very unlikely.
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