Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini says he and his team could do with more time before facing off against Mexican powerhouse Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Tigres are well into their season while the Whitecaps had to deal with a shortened pre-season to be ready for the game.
B次元官网网址淚 think we are where I thought we would be. A good moment, but not at our best, we have to be completely honest. They are much ahead of us in the preparations,B次元官网网址� Sartini said on Tuesday in Langford, B.C., ahead of the match.
That means, he said, that he intends on using all his substitutes for the game.
B次元官网网址淲ith the moment where we are, for sure weB次元官网网址檒l play probably 16 players not 11,B次元官网网址� Sartini said.
Tigres are undefeated through five matches, including victories over Leon and Chivas to open their 2024 calendar.
The Mexican side also has only two losses in its last 20 matches, which spans all the way back to Sept. 17, 2023.
The Whitecaps faced Tigres last year in the Leagues Cup, losing on 5-3 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 in regulation time.
But the shootout featured a magic show of sorts, with Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman appearing to pull silly string out of his mouth during the shootout and right before the deciding kick.
B次元官网网址淟ast time there was a show at the penalty shootout, so weB次元官网网址檙e familiar with their antics a bit,B次元官网网址� said striker Brian White.
B次元官网网址淔or us itB次元官网网址檚 about controlling what we can control.B次元官网网址�
Sartini agreed, but said he found Tigres antics amusing as an observer.
B次元官网网址淚 loved it,B次元官网网址� he said, repeating similar messaging from the last time the two teams faced off.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e also a very experienced team and they have a lot of guys over 30 years old. They know how to manage the game, manage the crowd.B次元官网网址�
The first leg of the Champions Cup will take place on Vancouver Island before a second leg at Estadio Universitario in San Nicol谩s de los Garza, Mexico on Feb. 14.
Vancouver entered the competition having beaten CF Montreal to win the Canadian Championship.
Fellow Canadian entries are CPL champion Forge FC and CPL regular-season winner Cavalry FC.
White acknowledged that his team, despite its recent pre-season in Marbella, Spain, may not be at 100 per cent.
B次元官网网址淪o far I think weB次元官网网址檝e had four or five games, depending on certain players, so hopefully itB次元官网网址檚 not as rusty,B次元官网网址� he said.
White and captain Ryan Gauld were previously asked about the short break, with both acknowledging the quick turnaround between the season ending on Nov. 5 and WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game.
The Whitecaps have traditionally been slow starters. In SartiniB次元官网网址檚 first two seasons as a head coach, the Whitecaps went the first five games without a win in 2022 and in the first 10 games only won twice and drew twice.
The team started without a win in the first six games of the 2023 MLS regular season.
B次元官网网址淗opefully itB次元官网网址檒l be a better start than the two starts IB次元官网网址檝e had as a head coach. It wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be hard,B次元官网网址� Sartini said with a laugh.
The club broke its MLS attendance record in the final playoff match with a crowd of 30,204 fans at B.C. Place and Sartini previously said he wants the club to continue its momentum from how the 2023 season ended into the start of a new season.
Vancouver will also take part in the Leagues Cup, which runs from July 26 to Aug. 25, 2024.
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