In a week in which MLS teams managed an unprecedented sweep in Concacaf Champions League knockout-stage play against Liga MX opponents, attention turns to the fallout.
In a week's time, we'll know if the wins posted by the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders will be enough. But following the latter two teams' wins over Mexican sides, it's clear the managers involved respect their opponents.
"Toronto is the MLS champion," Tigres UANL manager Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti (pictured above) said in the postgame press conference after falling to TFC 2-1. "They have all our respect, and naturally we know their ability, both collectively and individually."
Tigres looked to be in control in the first leg when Eduardo Vargas scored in the 52nd minute at BMO Field, before goals from Jozy Altidore and Jonathan Osorio hauled the hosts in front through 90 minutes of the quarterfinal tie.
"I think in today's match, as we expected, it was difficult, very difficult, and naturally I did not expect we would let in two goals in the comeback," the no-nonsense Ferretti explained.
The longtime Tigres boss lamented his team failing to capitalize on their narrow lead before coughing it up completely, but circled back to praise TFC counterpart Greg Vanney before making clear his desire to overturn the aggregate scoreline.
"I respect the rival, but we have to look for a triumph, so that it's we who earn the possibility of moving on to the next round," Ferretti said.
Meanwhile, Chivas de Guadalajara boss Matias Almeyda was full of praise for the Sounders following a 1-0 win for the home side at CenturyLink Field.
"The team was fine physically, it was a very dynamic game. This is a league that many underestimate and I study football, no. We knew that we would find a competitive team, in all its lines with fast, skillful people, aerial game. From a football perspective, we were up to the task," he explained.
Praising the quality of the likes of Clint Dempsey, who scored the goal, and Nicolas Lodeiro, Almeyda maintained Chivas were in the hunt, but were stretched after conceding.
"After the 1-0, the team went to look for the tie and there spaces were created in the last minutes that attacked, mostly because of the spaces and the speed favored them," he said.
Toronto FC face Tigres in the second leg of the CCL quarterfinal on Tuesday in Monterrey (10 pm ET | UDN, go90.com), while the Sounders take on Chivas in the second leg of that series on Wednesday in Guadalajara (10 pm ET | UDN, go90.com).
