Exactly four weeks remain until Sporting Kansas City kick off their 2019 season with a monumental showdown against Mexican club Deportivo Toluca FC in the first leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16. Tickets for the Feb. 21 matchup at Childrenās Mercy Park are now available at SeatGeek.com.
With two shutout wins under their belts to open the 2019 preseason, presented by Childrenās Mercy, Sporting KC are in full preparation mode for a daunting Champions League test that will require the side to play its earliest competitive match ever.
Sporting KC broadcaster Carter Augustine was with the team in Scottsdale, Arizona, this week to talk with Manager Peter Vermes and players about the upcoming Champions League challenge. Their remarks are in the space below.
Manager Peter Vermes:
āI think we have a good team. If we prepare well, weāll give ourselves a good shot in that series. Obviously we have some hurdles to overcome in the fact that this will be our first real game [on Feb. 21]. And a week later we play at their place at [8,800 feet] altitude. All of those things are going to be hurdles, but I also think that we have the ability to overcome all of them.
āWith a very consistent group returning, hopefully that will help us get back to the way we play very quickly and weāll be able to deal with some situations that we otherwise wouldnāt be able to.ā
Defender Matt Besler:
āThe Champions League is whatās on our radar right now. We talk about all of the competitions this year and what we want to (accomplish), but the thing thatās in front of us right now is that first Champions League game. Weāre preparing ourselves to get ready to play, and we want to try and take care of business in that game.
āWe can talk about the scheduling and who we play and the pros and cons of it, but we know that we have a really good team. Weāre going to put the work in and try to prepare ourselves to be as ready as possible. Weāll see what happens; weāre going to go out and leave it all on the field.ā
Forward Krisztian Nemeth:
āIt was a short (offseason) but Iām happy we can start the season in front of our fans. We want to make a successful Champions League (run), and letās hope we can get to the final. To be honest, [our goal] is always to win trophies. But the first step is to win that home-and-away (series).ā
Forward Erik Hurtado:
āEveryoneās looking forward to it. Thatās our main focus right nowāthe first game of our season against a good Mexican side. Itās going to be a great atmosphere. Itās always our goal to win championships, and to be the first MLS team [to win the Champions League] would be history. Everyone wants to be a part of history, so thatās definitely in the back of our minds. Weāre looking forward to that challenge.ā
Forward Johnny Russell:
āWeāre out here to win. Itās exciting for myself personally as well. Iāve never been involved in (the Champions League), so Iām excited to go different places and play different teams outside of the U.S. Itās looking positive and everything we do is geared toward that first game.ā