Isaac Brizuela (pictured) will be key to Toluca's pursuit of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League title. (Photo: Mexsport)
TOLUCA, Mexico – Only one match separates Toluca from the glory of a FIFA Club World Cup.
Midfielder Isaac Brizuela has assured all Red Devil supporters that the team will fight until the end in their CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) final against Cruz Azul to achieve that goal
“We know that Cruz Azul has difference makers, just like us and we know that the two have to be very attentive,” said Brizuela, who has one goal in five 2013-14 CCL appearances. “We cannot gift anything, not any ball, and the concentration that the team has will be most important.
“[The Club World Cup] is of great importance. I think that international tournament is one that all want to play and we are with this dream, with the desire to be in Morocco.”
The 23-year-old acknowledges that it won’t be easy to overcome Cruz Azul, but he has confidence in Toluca’s mentality ahead of the return leg at home on Wednesday.
“In a final, I think we both have the same chances, and more than the 0-0 we have going,” Brizuela expressed. “Simply, we are going to try to go forward. We have trained in a good way and we come in with the mentality of lifting the title. We know that it is not going to be easy, but we have a team with desire to make history, to do something different.”
The Mexico international expects Cruz Azul to play back, so it will be important for Toluca to take advantage of its scoring chances.
“I can say that in this match they are going to wait for us looking for a counterattack or a misstep from us, but we have to insist and not get desperate,” Brizuela concluded. “We are going to have a lot of runs and many people in attack. We know that any play can change the story of the match, for that reason concentration is important and simply to enjoy the final.”
Toluca won the CONCACAF Champions Cup on two occasions (1968, 2003), but has never lifted the CCL trophy.
