Atlético Ottawa coach Gustavo Da Silva Leal has expressed hope that his team can retain the Canadian Premier League title, reminding supporters that the club remains the reigning champion while warning that Forge FC must first be overcome in the semifinals.
Leal acknowledged the expectations surrounding Ottawa’s title defence but declined to promise supporters that the trophy would return to the club, insisting that his players must focus on the immediate challenge before looking towards the final.
“When I arrived here, I knew about it. I knew that we are the champions,” Leal said.
“In the last season, we were the champions. So until November 21, we are the champions. And I hope that we can get it again, to be champions again.”
The coach said he hoped Ottawa would again have the opportunity to play the final at home, but stressed that the team could not afford to overlook Forge FC in the two-leg semifinal.
He said the priority was to prepare properly for both matches, keep the focus on the team’s own performance and understand the threat posed by their opponents.
Leal also recognised that Ottawa could face either Cavalry FC or Supra in the final, depending on the outcome of the other semifinal, but insisted that speculation about a potential opponent was premature.
“Step by step, first we need to think about the semifinals,” he said.
“We have one strong opponent, it’s Forge. And we need to be ready to play these two games.”
Beyond the title ambition, Leal expressed enthusiasm about experiencing his first CPL playoffs at TD Place with Ottawa supporters behind the team.
He described the atmosphere surrounding decisive matches as a special part of football, noting that players and coaches work through an entire season in anticipation of moments such as semifinals and finals.
“I love this atmosphere,” he said. “I think that everybody want to live these kind of games, you know, it’s so good when sometimes we play the all season, just waiting moments like this.”
Leal drew on his previous experience in major knockout competitions, including semifinal and final matches at the Olympics five years earlier, to underline the lasting significance of such occasions.
He said these are the moments that remain in people’s memories and called on his team to recognise the importance of the week ahead.
“There are other tournaments that I played, the semifinal, the final at the Olympics that we played five years ago,” he said. “And these moments are so important. I think that are moments that will be in our memory forever.”
The coach’s excitement was balanced by a clear warning that preparation must match the magnitude of the occasion. Ottawa, he said, must use the week to prepare thoroughly before stepping into the semifinal.
For supporters hoping to see the club lift the trophy again, Leal’s message is one of belief tempered by patience. Ottawa remain the reigning champions, but their title defence will depend on negotiating the immediate test against Forge before any final-day ambitions can become reality.
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