‘I think we can be better,’ says TFC coach Vanney

TORONTO — “Crazy,” perhaps, but coach Greg Vanney agrees with his captain.

After TFC skip per Michael Bradley told the Toronto Sun he thinks the Reds can improve on the best season in MLS history, Vanney backed the American’s sentiment.

“Call me crazy,” Bradley told the Sun, “but I think we can be better.

“I don’t sit here … and think, ‘F---, that team last year was unbelievable.’ ”

Informed of Bradley’s bold prediction, Vanney didn’t shy away from added pressure.

“I think we can (be better),” he told the Sun. “It has to be our mindset. Our goal and our mission every day is to try and get better and push ourselves.

“I think it’s something we can do. The challenge this year is can we try and get every guy to be two per cent, three per cent, five per cent better.”

Can Sebastian Giovinco return to the season-long form that saw him win an MVP award? Can Jozy Altidore challenge for a Golden Boot award he’s capable of claiming?

Have the Reds actually upgraded at right fullback, or will Gregory van der Wiel struggle? Can defender Drew Moor continue to turn back the clock?

The aforementioned questions could weigh heavily in determining whether the Reds can, in fact, improve on 2017.

“I think there’s room for improvement,” Vanney added. “We just have to execute every day and work hard every day ... We have to play one game at a time like we did last year.”

Still, improving on 69 points and 20 wins and an unimaginable two losses-in-23-games streak will prove difficult. But, as both Bradley and Vanney both stated, not entirely impossible.

“We’re all here because we think we can continue to get better,” Vanney said.

Most forget the Reds struggled through the first six weeks of last season, winning just one of their first six fixtures.

Pundits questioned Bradley last April. They relentlessly questioned Vanney’s competence.

Now, they’re rightfully questioning whether TFC can best last season’s unbelievable run.

The first test arrives 11 days from now, when the Reds head to Colorado for the opening leg of a much-talked about CONCACAF Champions League series with the Rapids.

“If (an MLS team) is able to win (CCL) and show supremacy in this region I think it would show we’re getting there in terms of one of the best leagues in the world,” Vanney told ExtraTime Radio. “(Liga MX) has pretty good status in terms of the world’s game.”

Vanney made mention of the fact the Reds need to be better than they were last March.

“Can our preseason this season be better than it was the last two seasons? Can we be more prepared in a shorter period of time?” Vanney asked. “We have to play better than we did our first game last year to be able to win this CONCACAF championship.”

Preparation has been ratcheted up ahead of looming CCL games. The Reds topped Mexican side Tijuana 3-2 last week before resuming preseason Thursday with an exhibition against Club America.

A brace from Jozy Altidore and a free kick goal from Sebastian Giovinco saw the Reds hang with the Mexican giants until a flurry of late-game substitutions saw TFC fall 6-3 in Mexico City, where the club continues preparations for a competition they’ve been targeting since President Bill Manning took over for ex-MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke.

I think there’s room for improvement. We just have to execute every day and work hard every day ... We have to play one game at a time like we did last year.” TFC coach Greg Vanney