Timbers in Tucson | Caleb Porter "pleased" with team's progression in Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Portland Timbers took part in their final 2015 preseason training session in Tucson, Ariz. Monday at the Kino Sports Complex. 

Following Saturday’s 1-1 preseason draw with the Houston Dynamo, Timbers head coach Caleb Porter was happy with team’s overall performance.

“I thought it was very good,” said Porter. “We were, for me, the team that controlled the majority of the game, the majority of the play. I thought our defensive pressure was relentless. I thought in the attack, we dictated the game.

I’m pleased overall with every aspect of that game.”

Starting the same XI from the team’s 2-0 preseason win over Sporting Kansas City on Jan. 31, the players went from 45 minutes to an extended 60 minutes against Houston. That gradual increase in fitness is right in line with the overall progression Porter and his staff had planned.

“The priority is to stay healthy and the priority is to be fit,” he said. “I think based on the data and based on what you see, we pushed for 60 minutes and the guys didn’t look fatigued at all.”

Heading into Tuesday’s final Tucson preseason game against the San Jose Earthquakes (9:30am PT, Follow @TimbersFC on Twitter), Portland will look to switch up the lineup a bit to give some minutes to some different players.

Porter indicated that the starting group from Saturday’s game against Houston will get a rest from the game but will undergo a heavy fitness session Tuesday. Meanwhile, the group from Saturday’s match who played 30 minutes will go an extended 60 against the Earthquakes.

“That will allow us to give the six guys who haven’t played a run and a look,” said Porter. "They’ve been working hard and we do want to see them in a game.”

As the club’s time in Tucson draws to a close, Porter believes the work here has prepared them very well for the final stage of the 2015 preseason back in Portland where the Timbers will host three teams in the Simple Invitational at Providence Park (Feb. 22-28, TICKETS).

“We’re in a really good spot,” said Porter. “I’m very encouraged by what I’m seeing in all aspects. The chemistry is tremendous. Mentality-wise: tremendous. Physically: very good. Tactically: very good. A few little tweaks which we’ll address here in the next week or so and then we’ll hopefully make the next jump when we play Vancouver [Sunday in the Simple Invitational].”