FRISCO, Texas – As preseason ramps up into full gear for most MLS teams, FC Dallas will have an earlier start to competitive soccer as their CONCACAF Champions League play begins on February 21.
The CCL will debut a new format for the 2018 edition, with MLS clubs jumping straight into the knockout stage. Reaching the semifinals in the previous edition, FC Dallas are aiming for better this season. Their run begins against Tauro FC, winners of the 2017 Panamanian Clausura title.
“We are all thinking this year that we can reach farther,” coach Oscar Pareja said at the team's jersey unveiling event on Friday. “And why not go to the finals and winning it? That’s the ultimate goal for everybody. Last year the competition was very good. We had the opportunity to beat Pachuca at home and be very competitive in their ground. This year, we’re ready to excel and be better for sure.”
As a part of their preparation for the tournament, FC Dallas declined to release their players for the US national team's annual January training camp. US international Kellyn Acosta noted the importance of training with his club team.
“This is my first full preseason with FC Dallas," the midfielder said. "Obviously I wanted to go to [USMNT] camp and represent my country but on the other hand, I understood. It’s a big tournament for our team and we need to get off on the right foot. Being with the guys in the preseason, we had to endure a lot. Two-a-days are really tough and demanding from the coaches and the training staff. I was glad to be a part of it. I thought it was truly beneficial for me to start the year off right so I can continue to be healthy, strong and have a long successful year.”
Pareja also talked about the importance of having the 22-year-old midfielder for a full preseason and others in order to get ready physically for competitive matches.
“It does help because this is the first time I've had Kellyn in preseason completely,” Pareja said. “We all understand and support the national team schedule and we are very respectful of it, but having the CCL so quick and having the players two weeks with us, especially the first two weeks where we overload them and do it at the FC Dallas training ground is much, much better. So we agreed on that part and we think it will be beneficial to have them for the extra two weeks.”
With the grind of preseason done and friendlies beginning, Acosta believes the team is due for a big year after a disappointing end to last season, where they missed the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs after a surprising collapse in the second half of the season.
“This is a huge year for us,” Acosta said. "We got new additions that are going to help us tremendously. Physically, we’re the most fit we’ve ever been. We’ve been running a lot. Hopefully, we can make a strong push this year and go for it all.”
