PORTLAND, Ore. - Prior to Sunday's MLS regular season opener, Portland Timbers' manager Caleb Porter had already heard all of the reasons why his team won't repeat as MLS Cup champions.
But the defending champions are still plenty hungry, according to their coach.
There is the complacency that can creep in after winning a title, as well the fact that every team in MLS will be gunning for his side. Then there is the emotion that comes with being constantly reminded of last year's success.
On Sunday, those reminders were everywhere. The championship banner was unveiled, fireworks went off, as well as a tifo from the Timbers Army highlighting the fact that the title was the team's first of any kind in over 40 years of existence in a variety of leagues.
Adding to the occasion was the opponent: the team Portland defeated in last year's MLS Cup final, the Columbus Crew SC.
All the more reason for Porter and this team to get going, and put last year in the background. On all fronts, the Timbers got off to a good start, defeating a game Crew side, 2-1, thanks to goals from Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi.
"We showed today how hungry we are," said Porter during his post-match press conference. "We showed today that we picked up right where we left off at the end the year. Last year wasn't an anomaly. We showed today that we can be even better, and I'm confident that we can continue to go to another level.
"I think it was just in all aspects, managing the emotion, managing the banner, managing last year's talk, we literally put a marker down and said, 'It's a new year and we're a very good team, and nothing has changed because we won MLS Cup.' We're just as hungry as ever."
Valeri, who was fantastic all game long, put the Timbers in front with a first half free kick, only for Crew attacker Federico Higuain to equalize in the 68th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick. But Fanendo Adi came to the Timbers' rescue, prodding home a loose ball after Crew keeper Steve Clark had gotten a piece of Dairon Asprilla's low drive.
In between the Crew dominated possession to the tune of 62 percent to 38 percent. But Portland's ability to absorb pressure and hit teams on the break was on full display, and the home side should have put the game away only to squander some clear chances.
That the Timbers regrouped was what pleased their manager the most.
"There's always a twist in the game, and you've got to be ready for it," said Porter. "Good teams, they respond to it, and I thought our response after giving up the goal was ... credit to Higuain, a goal out of thin air, nothing, but a brilliant goal.
"Those things happen in this sport, but it's how you respond to it that determines how you're going to win the game. I thought our response was excellent."
These factors have Porter convinced that good times are ahead, no matter what obstacles will get thrown in his team's path.
"I'm looking forward to being with these guys for [nine] months, and 33 games now," he said. "There are going to be ups and downs, but if we play like we did tonight, there will be more ups than downs. And we're going to enjoy the three points every time we get it because it's not easy in this league.
"We saw some good teams fall today, and there will be some days where we fall as well. But if we play the way we did today tactically and mentally, we're going to win a lot of games."
