Real Salt Lake finished in third place in the west and qualified for this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup. Real Salt Lake qualified because they were the third-best team that had not qualified for the Cup. RSL will be looking to prove themselves and win a trophy that they were one game away from winning in 2011, falling short to Mexican giant Monterrey 3-2 on aggregate. Now the Claret and Cobalt, under the direction of Pablo Mastroeni, will be looking to compete and win the trophy for real this time.
RSL has proven that they can beat the best teams in MLS, but the rest of Concacaf is going to be a whole new challenge. Mexican giants like Monterey and Club America are the biggest concerns for the Claret and Cobalt. Add on teams from Central America that RSL has never faced and this could be a tough tournament for RSL. Let’s look at why RSL could and couldn’t win the Cup.
What do the end-of-season results mean for RSL’s chances in the Concacaf Champions Cup?
RSL finished third in the west, limping to the finish line with blown leads and embarrassing losses. RSL had to fight for every point and they played poorly on defense, turning the ball over several times and giving up ugly goals. Of course, RSL was playing with a depleted backline and occasionally had to put together a makeshift backline due to injuries and suspensions. RSL will be hoping to have a healthier backline when the tournament starts in February.
RSL will need to fix their turnover problems and get their midfield strengthened to have a chance at winning the Cup. The midfield was the catalyst of both strong attacks and costly turnovers throughout the season. If RSL struggles against subpar MLS clubs, then it will be very difficult to win games against CONCACAF opponents who have some of the best players in the region and highly experienced coaches.
How could RSL win the Cup?
RSL could win the Champions Cup if they tighten up the defense and get star forward Chicho Arango hot again. If they can pair Chicho with Diego Luna, Matt Crooks, and Anderson Julio, this team could be a dangerous force in the Champion’s Cup next year. RSL can go far or even win it all if they reignite the fire in the attack and work on the turnovers.
In conclusion, RSL could win the CONCACAF Champions Cup if they make some adjustments and get the lethal attack reignited. It won’t be easy for RSL but they can do it. They’ve surprised the world before and I think they could do it again.
