Kick Off: Conference Championships set for Tuesday | Klinsmann speaks out

Greg Seltzer

Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:

Wild, wild West

The Seattle Sounders are getting set to host Colorado in Tuesday's opening leg of their Western Conference Championship duel (10 pm ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes in USA; TSN1, TSN3, RDS2 in Canada). Ben Baer breaks down the line-by-line matchups, while Charles Boehm opines that this is Seattle's best chance to date to claim an MLS Cup.

Recovery bay

It seems as though Seattle rookie star Jordan Morris is nearing full fitness just in time for Tuesday's tie opener.

Visitors information

As for Colorado, the Denver Post says they need to find a way to stop Sounders playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro. Also, local blog Burgundy Wave warns that this will be the toughest away game of the season for the Rapids.

Switching shirts

United States internationals Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley are ready to put a disappointing week of World Cup qualifying on the back-burner in order to change their focus to Tuesday's Eastern Conference Championship away opener against derby rivals Montreal (8 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in USA; TSN1, TSN3, RDS in Canada). They will need to get on board with the Reds' plan to contain Impact star Ignacio Piatti.

Feeling the Impact

Veteran Montreal striker Didier Drogba has warned teammates and fans against looking past their Eastern Conference Championship showdown with Toronto FC. Meanwhile, teammate Harry Shipp insists that despite their No. 5 seeding, the Impact are no underdogs in this round.

Still a force

Though the LA Galaxy are waving goodbye to Robbie Keane and others, Andrew Wiebe writes that they should have enough in the cupboard to remain a contender.

What now?

Matt Pavlich weighs all the ways New York City FC can go with their open Designated Player slot for next season.

Reds rover?

Local blog Section 215 argues that Philadelphia would do very well to lure impending free agent Will Johnson away from Toronto FC.

Cold water

Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt quickly iced a rumor claiming that Crew strike ace Ola Kamara was in talks for an Aston Villa loan spell in January.

Border bonds

Calen Carr continues The Movement series by taking a look at how the USA-vs-Mexico rivalry shapes American soccer culture. Also, The Word covers how the rivalry actually helped bring the two nations together.

Klinsmann speaks

During a weekend Facebook Q&A, US manager Jurgen Klinsmann denied that there were any problems with Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe, saying he'll work his way back into the squad. Meanwhile, the US boss also expressed full confidence the team would overcome its early Hexagonal hole to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Hot getting hotter

In-form Sandhausen forward Andrew Wooten can't stop scoring. He hit twice on Saturday to pace a 3-1 victory.

Moving up in the world

Erik Palmer-Brown's stature is growing at Porto; the teen defender has been training with the first team to help them prepare for Tuesday's key UEFA Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen.