Can Javier Morales pull the strings for RSL?
Real Salt Lake’s 2016 season begins on Wednesday night in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal in Mexico, with many of the questions surrounding the team still unanswered after preseason training.
Unfortunately for RSL, they face a difficult opponent in Tigres, whose potent attack propelled the Liga MX side to an Apertura championship last year; the likes of André-Pierre Gignac, Jürgen Damm, and Rafael Sóbis will pose a stern test for a Real defense that still looked shaky at times during preseason matches. RSL may have caught somewhat of a break with winger Javier Aquino missing Wednesday’s match through injury, but the projected starting center back duo of Jamison Olave and Aaron Maund will have their hands full, provided that manager Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti decides to go with a full-strength lineup even with a key match against rivals Monterrey looming.
With Real failing in its latest attempt to sign another experienced central defender — the club was in talks with Ghanaian Jerry Akaminko after his trial with the team but the deal fell through — the most substantial addition to the defense over the off-season was the re-acquisition of Chris Wingert. However, although Wingert did play centrally with NYCFC last season, the 33-year-old is primarily known as an outside back.
Add in the form factor — that Liga MX is in full swing now, while MLS has yet to begin — and things begin to look pretty dicey for Salt Lake.
On the other hand, RSL’s attack should be stronger in 2016. The addition of Yura Movsisyan, combined with a full preseason for Burrito Martinez and a healthy Joao Plata, puts the team in a much better position than it was for much of 2015. If Javier Morales can pull the strings effectively, this presents a real opportunity for Real against Tigres — the Mexican side has had a couple of lackluster results recently against Xolos and Querétaro, and has struggled to keep clean sheets in league play.
While most teams might be satisfied to defend and try to hit Tigres on the counter, fans are unlikely to see that approach from RSL on Wednesday. The team has long preferred a methodical, possession-oriented style that doesn’t lend itself well to long, quick strikes on the diagonals. Moreover, with Real’s defense being its weak point, the midfield will need to maintain as much possession as possible and try to keep Tigres’ talented attackers off the ball.
It will be a tough task, but the visitors will need to keep the series as close as possible before the return leg the following week at Rio Tinto Stadium if RSL has any hopes of advancing to the semifinal round.
