With Toronto FC having opened their preseason, the entire squad is concurrently preparing for the 2012 MLS season and their huge CONCACAF Champions League fixture against the MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy on March 7th. And while the Galaxy certainly have to be considered the favourites in their Knockout stage matchup with the 2011 Canadian Champions, all of the Toronto FC players have expressed their belief that they can defeat Beckham, Donovan and company if they play to their full potential as a team.
Ask TFC midfielder if Toronto can send Los Angeles packing and he is likely to say that you need to look no further than a tape of TFC's season defining win over FC Dallas in their final Champions League Group stage match for the answer to your question.
"That (win over Dallas) was a big push for us. We saw what we can do and what we can create. We also played big teams at the end of last season and we did well against them. I think the push now is to get going. We've had our first practice and everyone was excited and was going a hundred miles per hour. We have great players on and off the bench and I think the depth is going to help us a lot," says Avila.
One of the most impressive aspects of the win over FC Dallas that saw TFC move to Knockout Stage of the Champions League for the first time is the fact that it was achieved when the team was missing two key players from its starting eleven, with Richard Eckersley unavailable due to injury and Avila himself Cup tied due to his previous appearances in the tournament with Dallas.
While nothing concrete has been stated as of yet in terms of Avila's eligibility to play in the next round of the tournament, the midfielder himself is hopeful he will be able to suit up and play against the Galaxy on March 7th.
"That question is still up in the air, but I think it is going to go my way and I will be able to play in that game. Which is exciting because all the tickets are being sold and the whole stadium is going to be packed and the city is getting excited and I'm getting excited. So if I can't play in that game because I am Cup tied, I'm going to be very gutted," says Avila.
Whether or not he plays against Los Angeles in the Champions League, Avila was quick to parrot a number of his teammates in touting the benefits inherent in having the same core that was so successful in the latter part of 2011 back for the new season.
"It definitely makes it easier playing together. The chemistry is there and no one is really fighting trying to make their own way. I think everyone is on the same page and we are actually trying to make this work. We've seen bits of it where it becomes great and I think we have tasted that and we want to keep going with that. I think that is our mindset," states Avila.
At the individual level, Avila sees the upcoming season as an especially important one in terms of his development as a young player still looking to solidfy himself with Toronto and in the MLS.
"I don't see myself as a (veteran). I'd like to play more games and get more experience. But I think the coaches and the players have given me the role of being that young experienced veteran. A lot of people have come in and we are a really young team, so anything I can do to help, I'm going to do it, because when I came in, the older players helped me and it made it so much easier. We have a lot of midfielders and they are all great players. The thing is that now it is about fighting for positions in a way. I do feel that with the system that we play that everyone can be mobile and can move around. For me, I just have to play hard and help the team wherever I play. Whether I fit on the inside or the outside, it's fine."
With the Dutch 4-3-3 system that Toronto now plays under Aron Winter, most of the talk around the team often centres on its potential as an attacking team. However, Avila admits that playing well at both ends of the pitch is likely what will determine if Toronto will be able to achieve all of its goals as a club in 2012.
"Everyone wants to attack and everyone wants to score that goal, but it honestly takes all eleven of us to defend. And I think when we are all on the same page coming back and tucking in, I don't think anyone can overcome us that way. But we do have an offensive mindset and I think if we keep pushing that way, it will go great. But it does go both ways on the ball."
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