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The pressure is on as a retooled Toronto FC kicks off its MLS season today in Seattle against the Sounders. Catch all the action live on TSN and TSN Radio 1050 at 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt.After seven years of on-field failure, new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke dug deep into a well-stocked corporate pocket to bankroll manager Ryan Nelsen and GM Tim Bezbatchenkos global talent search. Many zeros later, Toronto FC is now home to England striker Jermain Defoe, U.S. international midfielder Michael Bradley, Brazilian international goalie Julio Cesar and forward Gilberto, and veteran Canadian star midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. Toronto stocked up on so many designated players, it had to trade incumbent DP Matias Laba to Vancouver to get down to the league limit of three. The shopping spree has prompted a return to the clubs early days, when season tickets were hard to come by. BMO Field should be full this season, although Leiweke has acknowledged the team will still lose money in 2014 because of the outlay on players. With demand exceeding supply, top football talent is not cheap and MLSE likely had to overpay to convince such elite players to choose MLS over more established leagues.Fullbacks Justin Morrow and Bradley Orr and Brazilian midfielder Jackson have also joined the party, meaning Toronto will likely have eight new faces in its starting lineup when everyone is healthy. And theres the early season rub. Torontos pre-season was hit by injury, particularly at fullback and forward. Defoe, meanwhile was a late arrival due to club and country commitments.Gilberto, troubled by an upper leg injury, was been left out of the travelling party for Seattle. Nelsen hopes to have him back for the home opener March 22 against D.C. United. The Brazilian actually returned to training this week but Nelsen doesnt want to rush him in case he aggravates the injury. The artificial turf at CenturyLink Field was likely a factor in that decision. The good news is Defoe and Bradley are both available for selection. Bradley has been nursing a foot injury while Defoe simply hasnt had much time training with his new team. But Nelsen says the 31-year-old English forward has adapted well. "He feels pretty good, to tell you the truth," Nelsen said. "So well see how he is."Defoe could well come off the bench. Nelsen, in his second year at the Toronto helm, is mindful that this is a marathon, not a sprint.Other clubs kept their stars in cotton wool in Week 1 of the season. New York rested French forward Thierry Henry rather than expose him to the artificial turf at B.C. Place Stadium while Seattle sent in U.S. international striker Clint Dempsey off the bench. As for Bradley, Nelsen said: "Hes come through this week pretty good. I think Michael will be a definite." Thats good news for Toronto, which went 6-17-11 last season. Bradley looks to be the straw that stirs the TFC drink. Most everything will run through the American, a box-to-box midfielder who manages to be both cerebral and driven. Other injured players like Morrow and Orr have also returned to training. Their concern is game fitness rather than health. Nelsen is taking the long view."This game is not going to define us," he said. "Its going to take a bit of time to get everybody kind of on the same wavelength. Even Seattle, when they brought Clint (Dempsey) over -- just one piece -- were a bit of a different team last year. "Everybody has to kind of get used to each other and weve done it with several big pieces and several other pieces as well. This game is not going to define who we are. The next probably five or six, seven games are going to define who we are." Still, he hopes the progress is rapid, starting Saturday. With the playoffs a stated goal, Toronto cannot wait too long to start making its move up the standings, especially since Bradley, Cesar and possibly Defoe will be away for considerable time this summer on World Cup duty. When Toronto FC does not have possession, Nelsen expects his team to play the same kind of game it did last year -- with players pressing the opposition. The difference should be more noticeable when the team has the ball, given the influx of talent."Your options become a lot more with the quality thats on the field. Last year we had to be a bit more conservative because of the personnel we have," Nelsen said. "But when you have good players, you can start being a bit more expansive." While Toronto had a bye last weekend, a rain-soaked crowd of 39,240 saw Seattle win its season opener 1-0 over defending champion Sporting Kansas City with a stoppage-time goal by former Toronto forward Chad Barrett. Former Toronto keeper Stefan Frei was in goal. And on Thursday Seattle coach Sigi Schmid confirmed Frei as his No. 1 goalie ahead of veteran Marcus Hahnemann. The state of the Seattle turf at CenturyLink Field became an issue in the buildup to the Toronto game after Nelsen said of the surface: "Youve got not just an artificial field -- its a bad artificial field." Schmid took umbrage at the suggestions Seattles turf is bad, saying all the artificial surfaces are about the same in the league."Let me say this first, tell me which turf field is good in this league. There is no good turf field in this league," he told reporters. "I dont disagree, necessarily, with Ryans statement."Id love to have brand-new turf this year, as would everybody else. But I disagree with the point of making it seem like Seattles is worse than the others. I think the others are equally as good or as bad -- however you want to look at it." Scottish defender Steven Caldwell retains the Toronto armband as captain. Cesar starts in goal. To put Torontos woeful league history into perspective, a win Sunday would only be its 15th road victory since the teams debut in 2007. Seattle is one of seven MLS cities where Toronto has yet to win. NOTES: Torontos record in season openers is 1-6. All have been away from home to escape the weather. That record includes a 3-1 loss in Seattle to open the 2012 season. TFCs lone season-opening win was in 2009 when Toronto defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2 ... MLSE boss Tim Leiweke is expected to take in the Seattle season opener. Shane Bieber Jersey . Rajon Rondo had 18 of Bostons season-high 38 assists and the Celtics committed just seven turnovers in a 118-111 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Jose Ramirez Indians Jersey . Harris has played in six games since joining the Argos in 2012, completing 17-of-35 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/3428u-carlos-santana-jersey-indians.html .com) - Wayne Simmonds, Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek each posted a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, on Saturday. Zoilo Versalles Indians Jersey .com) - The Minnesota Twins made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of outfielder Torii Hunter to a one-year contract. Manny Ramirez Indians Jersey .C. United have acquired midfielder Alex Caskey from the Seattle Sounders for a third-round pick in the 2016 MLS draft.MADRID - Having lost 3-0 at home to defending champion Real Madrid, Liverpool needs to rediscover last seasons flair and rhythm to keep alive hopes of rising above third place in Group B of the Champions League.Most of all, coach Brendan Rodgers team needs to score goals when it travels to meet a supremely confident Madrid in Spain.Also, FC Basel hosts Lodogorets Razgrad.Here are some things to look out for in Tuesdays matches:___GOING FOR GOALCristiano Ronaldo needs to score two goals to take over as the Champions Leagues all-time leading goal scorer. The Portugal forwards opener in the 3-0 win at Anfield was his first at the Liverpool stadium and his 70th in the competition, one fewer than the record tally of 71 set by Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.Madrids confidence could not be greater and a win will seal its passage to the last 16 with two games to spare.Madrid took over at the top of La Liga for the first time this season with Saturdays 4-0 win at Granada, increasing its goal total to 46 in 11 games. Were in incredible form, said midfielder Luka Modric. His partnership with Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has been a key to Madrids success following the departures of Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria.___BALE IS BACKGareth Bale has returned to full training with Madrids squad and given coach Carlo Ancelotti an important additional attacking option. After four games sidelined through injury, the 25-year-old Wales forward showed his relief when he tweeted: Feels good to be at the top of the table and back in training with the boys.Bale missed the win at Anfield two weeks ago, the Clasico victory against Barcelona and the wins against Levante and Granada. Ancelotti has to decide if he will recall the Welshman to the starting line-up or retain his replacement Francisco Isco Alarcon, who has won over fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with his work-rate.___BASELS BEST DIAZChile midfielder Marcelo Diaz may return to Champions League duty for Basel when they host Ludogorets Razgrad.Diaz was Basels outstanding representative at the World Cup where he impressed for Chile, but he was suspeended for the earlier group matches when the Swiss team lost at Madrid and Ludogorets and beat Liverpool at home.dddddddddddde was banned after being sent off in extra time of Basels 5-0 loss at Valencia in the Europa League quarterfinals, second leg in April.Diaz played in all four of Chiles matches at the World Cup, including a penalty shootout loss to host Brazil in the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw.Basel could turn to Diaz as another World Cup player, Ivory Coasts Geoffroy Serey Die, is suspended.The Bulgarian champion has similar problems. Defender Yordan Minev, who scored the stoppage-time winning goal in Sofia, will miss Tuesdays match for receiving yellow cards in all three group games.___LIVERPOOLS DAUNTING WEEKWhile Ronaldo scored in his 12th straight game for Madrid in its win against Granada, Liverpool coach Rodgers was bemoaning his sides lack of attacking impetus in its 1-0 loss at Newcastle.For the team to have confidence, its important that you look like you can score, Rodgers said. But at the moment its not quite happening.Last season, Liverpool scored 101 league goals.For a coach who describes himself as creative and attacking, the current drought comes at a bad time as Liverpool follow their trip to Spain with a home match against the Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday.___PRESSURE ON BALOTELLIWith striker Daniel Sturridge still missing through injury, Rodgers will again turn to misfiring Italian Mario Balotelli or may replace him with Rickie Lambert.The Santiago Bernabeu stadium could be just the stage to spur Balotelli, who has gone eight league games without a goal.Balotelli ignited a spirited fightback by Liverpool against Swansea in the League Cup. Criticized for a string of below-par appearances, Balotelli came off the substitutes bench to score an 86th-minute equalizer before Dejan Lovren headed the winner. Finally! Balotelli tweeted after scoring his first goal in six weeks and only his second for Liverpool since joining from AC Milan in August.___Associated Press writers Graham Dunbar and Jack Beznats contributed to this preview. ' ' '