“Green.”



That was the word Toronto FC coach Aron Winter used to describe the pitch at the Rogers Centre.



You may have heard the Reds play the LA Galaxy Wednesday at 8 pm in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal (Rogers Sportsnet from 7:30 p.m. ET). The rematch in the two-leg series is set for a week later in California.



While the playing surface has been burnished to accommodate soccer, the coy Winter wouldn’t be drawn into a conversation on the aesthetics of the game.



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Video: Aron Winter after training on Monday.

For that matter, he couldn’t be counted on to say very much at all. With Julian de Guzman suspended, rookie midfielder Luis Silva, a standout at preseason, figures to see some playing time. Winter declined to speculate and the world, or at least the 45,000 who will fill Rogers Centre and the hundreds of thousands watching live will have to wait to find out.



Winter did promise one thing. After an encouraging camp, the Reds will be well prepared.



“Everybody was speaking, writing and talking about this game months ago,” Winter said. “Finally the moment is almost here. We have to be ready. We are ready.”



The Champions League encounters set the stage for the club’s MLS opener, March 17 in Seattle. That makes for an interesting few weeks, especially when you consider the Galaxy feature Landon Donovan, one-time TFC player Edson Buddle, Robbie Keane and, oh yes, David Beckham. There is no shortage of star power but TFC has been nicely remade by Winter in just over a year. With Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans, the club is far from punchless.



The star, Wednesday night, will be the people in the seats. The game is a sellout. “We’re making history,” said defender Ashtone Morgan, a Toronto native. “I want to be part of that.”



The trick, said Dutchman Koevermans is to enjoy the moment.



“I can only hope for a good result. We are prepared. I think they are prepared. We will see Wednesday. My expectations are that it’s going to be a difficult game. They are the MLS champion.”