Youthful Real Salt Lake Confident Entering Concacaf Champions Cup Play

Feb 18, 2025, 6:04 PM | Updated: 6:16 pm

KSL Sports

SANDY, Utah- After and eventful offseason that saw many contributing players transfers, making way for new additions, Real Salt Lake is ready to kick off another season of domestic and international, play starting tomorrow against C.S. Herediano in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The Claret-and-Cobalt will travel to Central America to take on Costa Rican side C.S. Herediano in the first leg away with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. MT.

Going international for @TheChampions

Next stop: Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/iAd8D6Bxsm

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 17, 2025

Real Salt Lake wrapped up a successful preseason campaign in the Coachella Valley with a draw and win on their final day in California before returning to Herriman.

During training at the Zions Bank RSL campus, the squad made final preparations before their travels, with a few members commenting on the Champions Cup matchup and the team’s form entering the new season.

Lachlan Brook

Real Salt Lake acquired Australian winger Lachlan Brook from Western Sydney during last year’s summer transfer window. The then 23-year-old only made three starts before the conclusion of the season, but he feels much more prepared with his first preseason with the club under his belt.

“I think for anyone getting a preseason, you start at the same level as everyone, or close to, and you’ve just got the confidence within training to find your feet as everyone else is as well,” Brook said about the added preparation.

While the preseason has been beneficial for Lachlan individually, he has also seen the growth of a squad full of new additions.

“The boys are ready,” Lachlan expressed about transitioning from exhibitions to actual competition, “We’ve had some good results… we haven’t lost any games… now it’s just about nailing out the final details and getting to the season.”

That transition will be a challenge however with competition starting in RSL’s return to international competition in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, leaving little room for error right off the bat.

“Just the same,” Brook reassured when asked how the team’s prep would differ given the physicality of CONCACAF, “We play against tough teams all the time. I know it’s a little bit different, but we’ve got some South American players as well, so we’re more than ready for the opportunity. Aussies can play rough as well.”

Hear from @realsaltlake winger Lachlan Brook ahead of Wednesday’s @TheChampions clash at CS Herediano@kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/dVpOyENcCj

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 15, 2025

Alexandros Katranis

Katranis, who signed a two-year deal with Real Salt Lake prior to the 2024 season, had a standout first year with the club at the left-back position, solidifying himself as one of the staples of RSL’s defensive core.

“My style is to be physical, but of course without hurting my opponent,” Katranis said when talking about how his style would translate against a CONCACAF opponent, “I will do 110%, I will give for my team, for 90 minutes, it’s my life, your death.”

As a core member of the back line, Alexandros touched on the defensive depth, crediting teammates Brayan Vera, Justenn Glad, Philip Quinton, Bode Hidalgo, and Javain Brown, and also expressing excitement to play with new additions Sam Junqua and Kobi Henry.

“They are amazing players and characters, so they’re settling in very fast, that’s very good for us,” Katranis said about the defense’s chemistry, “We have a good connection back there, so hopefully we’re gonna carry that on the pitch.”

Hear from @realsaltlake defender Alex Katranis ahead of Wednesday’s @TheChampions clash at CS Herediano@kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/SRkdi5uP1z

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 16, 2025

Pablo Mastroeni

Mastroeni is entering his fourth year as the permanent head coach of Real Salt Lake, and he will look to improve his team’s finishing position in the MLS standings for the fourth consecutive year. Pablo will have his first chance to coach RSL in the Champions Cup, and he admitted that it has been a different experience with such high stakes to open a season.

“It’s really interesting to go into your first game of the season and have so much on it,” Pablo explained, “but I’ve seen a really steely group from a mentality perspective.”

Preparation for high-level competition can also be complicated after such an active offseason with many new additions, but the head coach is confident in his young team, both physically and mentally.

“The mentality of this group has been better than any team that I have been a part of the last five years,” Mastroeni said proudly in praise of his group, “and that often comes because you have a younger group that are trying to prove themselves.”

With that confidence, Mastroeni has been preparing his group for the differences between MLS play and a two-leg match against a Central American opponent.

“We’ve been talking a lot about managing games, and I think for a group that hasn’t, especially the front guys, played together for quite some time, it’ll be really important that as a team, we understand how to manage games the right way, because every goal against is important and every goal that we score is important,” Pablo emphasized.

Further, Coach has been preparing his squad for the environment they will experience in Costa Rica, saying, “The biggest thing for me in these tournaments is the teams from Central American and South American countries, what they have a good knack of is understanding how to manage games, how to manage referees, in ways that either kill momentum or they get momentum on their side.”

With all that being said, the game is still decided on the pitch, and if Real Salt Lake is unable to match Herediano’s physicality, Pablo thinks it could be a difficult match for his side. “I think there’s no such thing as a game in Central America without it being physical… the one thing I’ll guarantee you, it’s gonna be a dog fight.”

Hear from @realsaltlake head coach Pablo Mastroeni ahead of Wednesday’s @TheChampions clash at CS Herediano@kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/VRJHLBCB52

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 15, 2025

How To Watch Real Salt Lake vs C.S. Herediano

The Round One matchup between Real Salt Lake and C.S. Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions Cup will be held on Wednesday, February 19, and Saturday, February 22. The first leg between RSL and Herediano will be played at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Heredia, Costa Rica. The match will begin at 4:30 p.m. MT.