Real Salt Lake is among four MLS clubs in the Quarterfinal Round of CONCACAF Champions League, joining Seattle Sounders FC, D.C. United and the LA Galaxy. That unprecedented level of infiltration from Major League Soccer is causing people to take notice, including U.S. National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
He recently sat down with USsoccer.com in a wide-ranging sweep of topics affecting the national team at this stage as it readies for 2018 World Cup qualifying, 2016 Olympic qualifying and more. Here is his take on the MLS clubs in Champions League.
“Having the CONCACAF Champions League on the horizon with our MLS teams involved is obviously very exciting. It’s big because the benchmark at the end of the day is always international for all of us, and now seeing our MLS teams compete in the CONCACAF Champions League is exciting and obviously we keep all of our fingers crossed,” Klinsmann said. “It will also be very difficult, especially when you play Mexican teams. They are in their season already since the beginning of January, so it’s very difficult to go eye-to-eye with them because MLS just started its own preseason. So hopefully things are going well, but it is very, very important for our MLS clubs to beat the teams in Champions League and to make their stamp on this very important competition.”
Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League 2015/16 Quarterfinals Schedule
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
6pm MT - Tigres vs. Real Salt Lake - Estadio Universitario; Monterrey, Mexico
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
8pm MT - Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres - Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, UT
2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Seedings after Group Stage
1. Club America (MEX) - 10 points, +7 GD
2. D.C. United (USA) - 10 points, +6 GD
3. Real Salt Lake (USA) - 10 points, +3 GD
4. Santos Laguna (MEX) - 9 points, +9 GD
5. LA Galaxy (USA) -- 8 points, +9 GD
6. Tigres (MEX) - 8 points, +2 GD
7. Queretaro (MEX) - 7 points, +9 GD
8. Seattle Sounders FC (USA) - 7 points, +3 GD
