VANCOUVER, BC - Eight games over four weeks in three different competitions. That's the task facing Vancouver Whitecaps FC during a jam-packed August.
With five matches in MLS, their first CONCACAF Champions League game and a two-legged Canadian Championship final, there's a lot at stake with very little room for error.
"It really is a great challenge for us," Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told reporters this week. "Who knows the outcome? In five weeks, I'll either be stood here with a big smile on my face or I won't."
It's a tall order, but the 'Caps are confident they can compete successfully on three fronts. To do that, Vancouver's squad depth will be tested like never before.
Robinson has never been a coach to shy away from squad rotation.It's a tool he'll use even more in the coming month, and he's already ahead of the curve in terms of preparation.
FUN FACT: In 24 matches this season in MLS and Amway Canadian Championship, Robinson has used 24 different lineup combinations.
"If you come into my office, you'll see that there's eight teams put up on the board," Robinson continued. "That's obviously subject to change. It's all very well planning things, but sometimes things get taken out of your hands. Rotation of squad will be paramount for us. I get reminded that I've played different lineups in most of the games I've played. Nothing will change there."
Vancouver's action-filled August kicks off in Seattle on Saturday night in MLS action (7 p.m. PT, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US) and, just to add extra spice, it's the first of two meetings in the space of five days for the Cascadian rivals, with a Champions League clash at BC Place coming up on Wednesday. A Saturday win for Seattle would also see them clinch this year's Cascadia Cup.
Robinson has a lot of thinking to do with how he approaches the month ahead, including prioritizing the competitions.
Any slip in MLS play will see Vancouver quickly pulled into the chasing pack in the Western Conference, but they want to advance in their first foray into Champions League play, while the Canadian Championship sees them two games away from silverware and a place in next year's Champions League.
"Saturday's game is the most important game for me. Then once we get past Saturday's game, on Saturday night, I'll tell you that Wednesday's game is the most important." Robinson joked.
"We know we're in three competitions, which will be very difficult for us. But our first priority is Saturday's game, because we know if we don't get a result there, then we're probably going to give up the Cascadia Cup, which we've held for two years and is a great achievement for the club. We're not going to give it up lightly, let me tell you that."
Back-to-back games against the same Cascadian rivals will always be tough, but Vancouver could be facing Seattle at the perfect time. The Sounders have just one win in their last seven matches and have lost their last three games without scoring a goal.
Are Seattle ripe for the picking? That's never the case as far as Robinson is concerned.
"You don't need to build up games between us and Seattle," Robinson said. "We like playing them because it's a derby game. Is it a good time to play them? When's a good time to play Seattle? They're a top, top team. They've spent a lot of money. There's never an easy time to play Seattle, and you can read into it what you want."
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