Whitecaps set to visit Mexico’s Tigres in 1st leg of Champions League semis
Carl Robinson walked into a number of intimidating venues as a player.
The head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps loved the atmosphere home fans created at the Millennium Stadium while he was a member of the Welsh national team.
He also loathed trips as an opponent to Liverpool’s Anfield — a cathedral of world soccer where it feels like supporters are breathing down your neck.
“They can put real pressure on you and make it real uncomfortable,” said Robinson.
While it won’t be Britain, the Whitecaps are expecting a similar experience tonight in Monterrey, Mexico, when they visit Tigres UANL in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semfinal.
The opening match of the two-game aggregate series is set for Estadio Universitario, a venue nicknamed “The Volcano.” The rematch with Tigres goes April 5 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“It will be difficult, make no doubt about that,” Robinson said Monday. “They’re going to have 40,000 (fans) and they are probably going to throw the kitchen sink at us in the first five, 10 minutes because I’m sure in their minds they would like to put the tie out of sight as soon as they can.”
Playing in Mexico has historically been a nightmare for Major League Soccer teams, who are a combined 2-42-8 in Champions League play. That’s two wins in 52 games.
The Whitecaps beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals to move onto the last four of the competition that features teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Vancouver is the third Canadian team to make the semis after Toronto FC in 2011-12 and the Montreal Impact in 2014-15.