Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler would be the first to admit that the international break was a welcome respite for the team.
After all, Sporting had played six games in an 18-day stretch from Feb. 28 to March 17, a breathless period that included road games in three different countries. But now that the break is in the rearview mirror, Manager Peter Vermes' men are braced for another busy stretch that requires juggling the MLS regular season and the Concacaf Champions League.
Besler's side will play five matches in 16 days from March 30 to April 14, beginning with Saturday's home tilt against the Montreal Impact at 2 p.m. CT. Tickets for the inter-conference clash are available at SeatGeek.com as Sporting aims to collect three points ahead of next week's Champions League trip to Monterrey.
"It seems like Montreal is always in a really good run of form or really struggling, so it's an interesting game depending on when you catch them in the season," Besler told Sports Radio 810 WHB on Tuesday, citing playmaker Ignacio Piatti as one of Major League Soccer's best players over the last several seasons.
Montreal has opened the 2019 campaign with three away games, earning wins in San Jose and Orlando on either side of a narrow loss at Houston. Piatti has scored three goals in the Impact's two victories.
Despite the Argentine's talismanic presence with Montreal, "They're a more balanced team and a better team than in years past," Besler said. "This year they're changing a bit with how they play. Like any team we face, most of the focus is going to be about us. We're going to try and play with a high intensity, come out sharp and be a good version of ourselves. If we do that, we're confident it'll be enough to get three points."
Listen to the full podcast below courtesy of 810 WHB.
