Timbers sign Chara and Nagbe to contract extensions

Portland Timbers fans and players reflect on last season's MLS Cup success, and look ahead to the new season.

The Timbers defied all odds to win their first-ever national championship last season at the expense of Columbus Crew SC.

Follow the Football match between Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew live with Eurosport. "So, I am ready for the season and I want to repeat it", he added.

He has been capped 22 times for Ghana but hasn't played for the team after the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Through 2019, each MLS club receives an additional $100,000 per season to sign new players or retain players earning at or above the maximum charge against the salary cap ($436,250 in 2015). Portland may be in position to win its first Cascadia Cup - the trophy that goes to the victor of the season series between the Timbers, Sounders and Whitecaps - since 2012.

Dallas were exciting to watch in 2015, and with their team looking increasingly risky by the year under influential coach Oscar Pareja, there is a good chance the club can bring the first MLS Cup to Texas since rivals Houston Dynamo did so in 2007.

Last year, Crew were one of the most formidable attacking teams in the league, despite operating on a far smaller budget than other teams in MLS. And the Timbers always play well in British Columbia: Since the Timbers and Whitecaps entered MLS in 2011, Portland is 4-1-2 on the road in this rivalry, which includes a 2-0 victory during the Western Conference semifinals last season.

Chara has started in 145 games for Portland, with six goals and 13 assists.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri plans to ignore title rivals on Wednesday night
The first half at Vicarage Road was tense, with neither team willing to commit too many numbers forward. We do our best, play well, and if someone is over us, we say well done".