The countdown to Concacaf Champions Cup is underway, and there are less than two weeks remaining until Philadelphia Union takes on Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica on February 20th.
The Boys in Blue earned their CCC berth with a 3-0 victory over CF Monterrey in the Leagues Cup Third-Place game last summer, and soon, they’ll have a chance to capitalize on the opportunity and battle for a trophy that comes with $5,000,000 in prize money and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Head Coach Jim Curtin is well-versed in the challenge of playing Saprissa; In 2004, he was a 24-year-old center back for Chicago Fire when he took on the Costa Rican giants in the Semifinal Round of Concacaf Champions League, which was rebranded to Concacaf Champions Cup this year.
Chicago Fire dropped the two-game series, despite a late goal from Curtin himself that pushed his former team to a 2-1 victory at Soldier Field. Saprissa advanced on aggregate – but the experience is something Curtin remembers well.
“I had the opportunity to play there in the Champions League a long time ago, in a full stadium, and it is a very hostile, intimidating place to go,” Head Coach Jim Curtin said. “The Costa Rican people are amazing. They have a beautiful country, one of my favorite countries outside of the US to go visit but they're very passionate about their soccer. Saprissa is the biggest club in their country, and we expect a really tough test.”
Philadelphia Union played Saprissa in 2021 in the round of 16 of their inaugural Concacaf campaign, besting their opponents by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline across the two-game series. But, two years ago, Estadio Saprissa was empty due to COVID-19 restrictions, and Philadelphia didn’t have to face their Supporters Section. When it’s filled, it’s known to be one of the most daunting venues in Concacaf, nicknamed La Cueva del Monstruo or The Monster's Cave.
It’s something Curtin’s warned his team about, but many, like homegrown Nate Harriel, who heard about the lore from a former coach, have already been made aware of Estadio Saprissa’s crowd and what to expect.
“We know that last time we went there, in an empty stadium, it was still very difficult. We took care of things at home in the second leg there. But this will be a whole new, new animal. They have a lot of great experienced players. They have some good new young talent as well and the roster will have to be at our max to go down there and get a result.”
With Saprissa and the team’s Major League Soccer home opener in mind, leg two of preseason has had an intense start, kicking off with a post-flight training on Monday, a conditioning-geared two-a-day schedule on Tuesday, and a training and lift combo on Wednesday. The team has just two friendlies before it counts, starting with FC Cincinnati on Friday, then New England Revolution on Valentine’s day.
“A couple good preseason tests are coming up. But really, it's all geared towards our sole focus, which is trying to get a result down in Saprissa, which is no easy task. We have to maximize every second we have together – that's on the field that's off the field. Getting to know our new teammates, pushing each other the right way in training. The work rates have been incredible by the guys, they always give me that. Now, we're kind of fine tuning and sharpening some things on the offensive side of the ball, which has been really fun to watch,” Curtin said.
“The great thing about this club is the culture that we have here. The technical staff is incredible. The support staff, the sports performance staff, everybody does a great job being on the same page, and our players create an environment where they develop and get better and better, and that doesn't just mean the young ones. That means the older ones as well. They're getting better each and every year. So proud to be a small part of that. And now we look forward to a real test of the Champions Cup."
