The start of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League is still three weeks away, but the competition remains top of mind for Sporting Kansas City and its Round of 16 opponent, Deportivo Toluca FC of Mexico.
In a Thursday feature on ConcacafChampionsLeague.com, Toluca forward Enrique Triverio declared that los Diablos Rojos enter the tournament with high expectations.
“There is always pressure when you are in a big club. Toluca is one of them and we have to be protagonists in all the tournaments,” Triverio said.
Toluca opened the Liga MX Clausura season with two straight wins, but have lost each of their last two league fixtures by a 1-0 scoreline. Despite the recent setback, Triverio believes the club has what it takes to contend for silverware on both domestic and international fronts.
“We have aspirations in the two tournaments, we want to be protagonists in both. We have to be good when it’s time to play in each tournament that is scheduled for us, to be 100 perfect,” Triverio said.
Sporting will open their Champions League campaign on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Children’s Mercy Park, facing Toluca at 7 p.m. CT in Leg 1 of the Round of 16. Manager Peter Vermes’ side will then travel to Estadio Nemesio Diez in Mexico for the decisive second leg at 9 p.m. CT on Thursday, Feb. 28.
Tickets for Sporting KC’s highly anticipated Champions League home match are now on sale to the general public at SeatGeek.com.
