Toronto FC needs a win against Montreal
TORONTO — Prior to meeting reporters after practice Friday, Toronto Football Club coach Greg Vanney took time out to mingle with pint-sized players attending a summer camp at the Major League Soccer team’s training ground.
Other coaches in his position — looking up at the last playoff spot with time and games running out — might have skipped the niceties. But while keeping his eye firmly on what seems an elusive playoff prize, Vanney manages to keep things in perspective.
“They’re future TFC fans or they’re future TFC players,” the father of four said of the kids happily clad in Toronto colours. “They’re an important part of what we’re doing here at the club.
“I was one of them at one point,” he added.
The interaction was likely a welcome reprieve from the daily questions about just how slim the reigning MLS champions’ playoff chances are. Vanney has not avoided the topic, cooly revising his estimate of wins needed as one opportunity after another is squandered.
Next up is a must-win home game Saturday with the Montreal Impact (10-13-3), who occupy the sixth and last playoff position in the East with 33 points.
Ninth-place Toronto (6-12-6) is nine points in arrears but has two games in hand on the Impact.
“It’s a derby. It’s against our hated rivals,” veteran defender Drew Moor said of facing Montreal.
“We know how important it is to the players, the club, the fans, the entire organization. And we’ll play like it’s a Cup final.
It’s a good opportunity to get ourselves going.”
To reach Montreal, TFC has to climb past D.C. United (7-9-6) and New England (7-9-8).
With Atlanta, the New York Red Bulls, New York City FC and Columbus firmly entrenched in the top four spots in the East, the chasers are trying to nail down fifth and sixth.
Vanney’s team has 10 games remaining, with six of those at home. He says they will likely have to win out at BMO Field and pick up at least one victory on the road.
“We still have the ability to control our fate over those 10 games if we can get on a good run,” Vanney said optimistically of what is a very tall order.
For some, the situation facing TFC is desperate. “The word I like is urgency,” said Moor.
Toronto has lost just once in its last nine matches in all competitions (5-1-3) and that was against New York City FC when it played 79 minutes down a man.