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Ramirez, Alajuelense focused on SCCL success

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Alajuelense's Jose Guillermo Ortiz (pictured) in a Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal, second leg match against host D.C. United on March 4, 2015, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Linda Cuttone/sportsvueinternet.com) ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – Success in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League is the priority for semifinalist Alajuelense, says head coach Oscar Ramirez. The Manudos will visit the Impact de Montreal on March 18 in the first of a pair of games that will determine one of the two finalists.  Part of Ramirez’s plan is to give his regulars a break in upcoming 2015 Costa Rican Verano games, so that they are fresh for international play. “We are going to analyze and hope that the boys can be rested,” said the 51-year-old.  “We will see in training and we will make a decision.  We want more in CONCACAF and to rise above.  I think if there is willingness from the boys.  Anything can happen.” After a 2-2 draw at AS Puma on Sunday, Alajuelense sits third in the domestic table, three points behind first-place Saprissa. “We are going match by match,” Ramirez added.  “First, the opening leg there on the 18th and later the return leg here in the country.  We don’t have the right to choose if it is our opponent or not.  If there are only four teams left it is because they are the best teams.  I know that each time it is made more difficult and that they are going to make it a tough match.” A trip to the United States for last week’s quarterfinal, second leg match against D.C. United, was met with numerous challenges, including long travel times and adverse weather conditions.  With that experience under his belt, Ramirez wants to prepare for even longer journey to Canada. “Other times, it killed us to go every two or three days and now we have the trip to Canada; a ton of situations that are not easy,” he finished.  “For example, we have been traveling 24 hours and we arrived overnight.  We played in snow.  We gave 100% in the United States.  There is a significant fatigue factor.” This will be Alajuelense’s second consecutive appearance in the SCCL semifinals.  Last year, it fell to Mexico’s Toluca 3-0 on aggregate.

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