By Yomi Kuku, Toronto, Canada
Ahead of Friday’s Canadian Premier League clash between Inter Toronto and Supra Du Québec, Inter Toronto head coach Mauro Eustáquio made one thing clear about his unbeaten side, believing there is still another level to reach despite their strong start to the season.
Inter Toronto head into Friday’s Canadian Premier League showdown against Supra Du Québec unbeaten and full of confidence, but head coach Mauro Eustáquio insists his side are “just scratching the surface” despite their impressive early-season form.
Speaking ahead of the match, Eustáquio praised Supra as an aggressive and dangerous attacking side while warning his players against underestimating the Quebec club.
“They’re a good side, they stick to their guns,” Eustáquio said. “They attack in every game, they’re a very transitional team or a team that attacks with a lot of players which makes them extremely dangerous.”
The Inter Toronto manager acknowledged that Supra will arrive motivated to return home with points, adding that his own team are fully aware of the challenge awaiting them on Friday.
“We know it will be a hard game,” he said.
Inter Toronto’s strong start to the campaign has been built on ambition, squad depth and a clear tactical identity. Eustáquio revealed that the club’s ownership and sporting leadership had mapped out a long-term project from the moment he accepted the role.
“The first minute that I got the job and I sat down with the ownership and with Jorge, we had a long-term plan,” he explained. “Right now we’re exactly where we wanted to be.”
After showing flashes of promise last season, Eustáquio believes the mentality around the squad has changed significantly entering the new campaign.
“If you compare the start of last year to the start of this season, you can see that our ambition and motivation is completely different,” he said.
Despite remaining unbeaten, Inter Toronto have battled through injuries and late arrivals caused by visa issues, forcing Eustáquio to rotate heavily during the opening weeks. Still, he believes the club’s depth has allowed them to remain competitive.
“Everybody that has played has been able to perform and we’re right now a winning team because of that,” he said.
The coach also admitted that the team have not yet fielded a fully healthy squad this season and expects major improvement once key players regain full fitness.
“I think we can give a lot more,” Eustáquio said. “Do I think there’s a better version of ourselves right now? One hundred percent.”
A major part of Inter Toronto’s growth has come from the arrival of experienced veterans including Guzman and former Mexican international Raul Lopez. Midfielder Max Ferrari praised the influence both players have had inside the dressing room and on the training ground.
“When you bring in players like that with all that experience, of course they’re going to know the game,” Ferrari said. “But the most important part is when you bring in such good people.”
Ferrari highlighted Lopez’s experience with the Mexican national team and in the USL, saying the pair have raised standards through their professionalism and daily habits.
“These guys are in the gym before and after training,” Ferrari explained. “They show the dedication they put into their whole careers and they’re still doing it now.”
Inter Toronto’s tactical flexibility has also become a major strength early in the season. Eustáquio specifically pointed to Julian “Alto” as a player thriving in the club’s 3-4-3 system after being deployed in a more withdrawn attacking role.
“I think Julian’s at his best when he can turn and face goal,” Eustáquio said. “He reads the game really well and I think he’s got another gear in him.”
The coach also discussed how teams across the league are adapting to the recently implemented “daylight offside” interpretation, which has changed the way attacking runs and defensive lines are managed.
“I think the offside rule benefits the offensive team,” Eustáquio admitted. “For us, the best way to counter that is to stop the ball from travelling and that’s why we’re such a high-tempo, high-pressing team.”
He added that the rule has increased the intensity and fluidity of matches while forcing teams to rethink defensive organization.
Beyond Friday’s fixture, Eustáquio acknowledged that the upcoming FIFA World Cup break could become important for his physically demanding squad.
“With the way that we play — high tempo, high pressing — it takes a toll on the bodies,” he said. “I think we’ll definitely benefit from the break both physically and mentally.”
The Inter Toronto coach also welcomed the opportunity for the club and the Canadian Premier League to help promote the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto, calling it “a privilege” for Canada to host the tournament.
“We want to continue to promote not only the World Cup but Inter Toronto and the CPL and soccer in this country,” Eustáquio said.
Friday’s clash against Supra could also mark the beginning of another heated chapter in Canadian football rivalries. While Eustáquio acknowledged the long-standing Toronto-Montreal sporting tension, he believes the intensity of the fixture will come more from competitive ambition than geography.
“I think rivalries are important,” he said. “But I think it’s two teams that want to win.”
With Inter Toronto unbeaten, ambitious and still convinced there is more to come, Friday’s matchup against Supra Du Québec may provide another early-season measuring stick for one of the Canadian Premier League’s most intriguing projects.