Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese pleased with competition in preseason training

TUCSON, Arizona -- Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese stood on the side of a field at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona and watched closely as his players battled it out in an 11v11 scrimmage.

With 11 days left before the Timbers open their 2019 MLS regular season campaign, the competition in training is high. While the majority of the players that started in last year’s MLS Cup final are returning to the club this season, there are still positional battles going on across the pitch as players strive to prove to Savarese that they deserve a spot in the starting lineup or in the 18 on opening day.

“I think everybody is competing," Savarese said. “I think at this moment, everybody could start. Every single player could put up a case for them to be in the starting lineup and that’s what we want.”

After reaching the 2018 MLS Cup final, the Timbers decided to keep the majority of their roster intact this offseason. The club has made just four offseason signings so far, adding center back Claude Dielna and goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic, as well as signing Renzo Zambrano and Marvin Loria from the T2 program. Ivacic is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a left tibial stress fracture and won’t be able to compete for playing time early in the year.

The Timbers are also expected to announce the signing of Paraguayan right back Jorge Moreira later this week. Moreira has already joined the Timbers at their preseason training camp in Arizona. The club is still hoping to sign a designated player at the forward position before the close of the primary transfer window as well.

But despite the limited roster changes this offseason, the Timbers still have had plenty of competition at multiple positions in preseason.

Center back

No positional battle has been fiercer than the one at center back. Liam Ridgewell’s departure in the offseason left an open starting position at center back alongside veteran Larrys Mabiala. Dielna, Bill Tuiloma and Julio Cascante have been competing throughout preseason to claim that starting role. Cascante and Tuiloma were both with the Timbers last season and are seen as potential long-term options at center back, while Dielna, who joined the Timbers from New England, brings veteran experience to the club.

Cascante has started in all four of Portland’s preseason games so far, but it is unclear whether Savarese is trying to give Cascante an extended look on the field or whether the Timbers coach sees the 25-year-old rising in the depth chart. Two of Portland’s four center backs will start on opening day, while the next center back on the depth chart will likely earn a spot in the 18.

Right back

With the addition of Moreira, the Timbers now have two proven right backs that are capable of stepping into the starting lineup. Zarek Valentin was originally signed by the Timbers as a depth piece at both right and left back in 2016, but ended up forcing his way into the starting lineup. He had the best season of his career in 2018 as he made 30 starts for the Timbers. But Portland isn’t bringing in Moreira to sit on the bench. The Paraguayan right back is joining the Timbers from Argentine club River Plate and Portland is expected to use Targeted Allocation Money to complete the acquisition. While Valentin remains the likely opening day starter, this will be a positional battle to watch throughout the year.

Forward

Jeremy Ebobisse is returning to Portland as the club’s starting forward this year and has had some positive moments in preseason since rejoining the Timbers after earning a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team in January. Ebobisse has scored in both of Portland’s official preseason games in Arizona so far, and reportedly scored in a closed door scrimmage against the Red Bulls as well. But Ebobisse has started just once in preseason so far as Savarese has given forward Lucas Melano an opportunity in the lineup. Savarese said he liked what he saw from Melano toward the end of last season and has been happy with the forward in preseason so far. Melano, who has scored just five goals in 51 regular season career appearances for the Timbers, netted three goals in Portland’s first two preseason games of the year in Costa Rica earlier this month.

If the Timbers sign a designated player, the competition for the forward position would become even more heated. For now, the battle for the starting role appears to be between Ebobisse and Melano. After an impressive run at the end of 2018, Ebobisse is likely to be the club’s starter early in the year. But Melano will also have the opportunity to prove that he can contribute on a consistent basis and find the back of the net with more regularity.

Winger

Sebastian Blanco was arguably Portland’s best attacking player in 2018 and will continue to be a key piece for the Timbers on the wing in 2019. But the club also has a handful of other players that will be competing for minutes at the other winger position this year.

Winger Andy Polo made 23 appearances for the Timbers in 2018, recording one goal and two assists. While he returns to the club as a presumed starter, winger Dairon Asprilla has had some opportunities to prove himself in the lineup in preseason so far. Asprilla started in last Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Red Bulls.

Behind Polo and Asprilla, Loria and Tomas Conechny have both been pushing to show that they can be real contributors for the first team this year. After a successful season with T2 and a call-up to the Costa Rica National Team in January, Loria looks like a player that could make a real impact for the Timbers in the long-run. He has had some nice moments in preseason so far, including a tremendous shot against the Red Bulls that ultimately hit off the post. Still, it remains to be seen whether he can contribute at the first team level this season. The Timbers brought in Conechny on loan with high expectations last year, but the 20-year-old Argentine played just 72 minutes in 2018 and didn’t look ready for prime time. He has been given the opportunity in preseason to show that he can contribute this year as well.

“I think for everyone it’s about bringing that good attitude, that good intensity to work, to compete," Savarese said. "While we work with the team to make sure that the group is better, we also have to help each player individually to become better and do something more. That’s what we’ve been focused on in preseason.”

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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