Atlético Ottawa coach Gustavo Da Silva Leal says his side must approach the Canadian Premier League playoffs step by step, insisting that squad management and home advantage could prove crucial in their two-leg semifinal against Forge FC.
Leal said Ottawa used their final regular-season game to give opportunities to players who had featured less frequently and allow key members of the squad to recover ahead of the decisive playoff fixtures.
The coach was satisfied that the match ended without injuries or red cards, leaving his team ready to concentrate fully on the postseason.
“We used this game (against Inter Toronto) to give the opportunity to some players that were not playing before, to rest and to recover other players that needed this time to ,” Leal said in the interview.
“I think that was good to see some things, but now we need to keep the focus in the playoffs. We need to be 100% for the next game.”
Ottawa face a formidable challenge in Forge FC, whom Leal congratulated for winning the Canadian Championship. He also acknowledged the significance of the achievement for the league and congratulated Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis.
However, Leal stressed that the cup competition was now behind them and that the playoffs demanded a different approach.
With only four teams involved in the championship playoffs, he explained that the semifinal would be decided over two matches, while the final would be a single game.
“We need to think step by step,” he said, describing the opening challenge as a major contest in which Ottawa must make the most of playing the first leg at home without assuming the tie would be settled there.
Leal believes the timing and form of the team will be decisive, arguing that the playoffs often depend on which side reaches the crucial stage in the best condition.
He said the squad was ready and would devote the coming two weeks to the semifinal rather than looking too far ahead to the final.
“I think that, again, we are ready to play the playoffs. We have every player ready to play,” he said.
“Now this week is full focus in these two games, not just this week. These next two weeks is a full focus in these two games, in the semifinal.”
The coach also explained why Ottawa had been able to rotate players in their final league fixture, noting that the team had secured its position through strong performances earlier in the campaign.
While other teams were still competing for important league objectives, Ottawa had earned the opportunity to manage its squad ahead of the playoffs.
Leal specifically mentioned resting important players, including Ballou Tabla and Sergei, while using the match to assess other options.
The immediate task, however, remains Forge. Leal said Ottawa must concentrate on their opponents and deliver over both legs before considering a potential final against either Cavalry FC or Supra.
For the Ottawa coach, the message is clear: the regular season has provided the platform, but the team must now turn its attention to the knockout stage, where preparation, fitness and performance over two matches will determine whether its title defence continues.