Fatigue a formidable foe as ’Caps fight for playoff spot

In the midst of an unusual season punctuated by a gruelling schedule, the Whitecaps are taking on yet another challenge this week — game day travel.

Usually the team would fly into California ahead of today’s match with Los Angeles FC. But due to COVID-19 concerns, teams across Major League Soccer have been opting instead to stay home — or in the case of Canadian clubs, at their temporary U.S. homes — as late as possible to minimize exposure.

That means the Caps (5-7-0) will be waking at their hotel in Portland, Ore., about 7:30 a.m. for a 7:30 p.m. game. In between, they’ll have lots of travel, including a nearly two-hour flight, and just a brief rest at a hotel in L.A.

“The strain before kickoff is already too high for me,” coach Marc Dos Santos told reporters this week. “Should you play professional games of any sport like that? No. But is it an opportunity and a learning experience to show how strong you can be mentally? Yes, a huge one.”

The Whitecaps head to California in good standing, having won three of their last four games, and currently sit above the playoff bar.

L.A. (4-5-3) has lost three of its last four outings, and are coming off a 3-0 road loss in Seattle on Friday.

Still, the ’Caps and LAFC are tied for points, with Vancouver sitting just two spots above the Black and Gold in the Western Conference standings based on wins.

In order to stay in the post-season race, the Whitecaps need to battle fatigue.

“Three games in one week is difficult for any team in the world, especially when you play against a big team,” said ’Caps left back Ali Adnan. “We have so many games right now and we have to take care of the body.”

Getting players to take care of themselves hasn’t been an issue for Dos Santos.

“We have a group of players that’s extremely professional,” he said. “We don’t have to tell them to go for naps. They actually love to nap.”

The club’s trainers also ensure players have everything they need to recover properly between games, he added, including proper nutrition, massage therapy and appropriate training sessions.

It isn’t only the ’Caps who are feeling the grind of an unusual season, Dos Santos said. “It’s hard for me to think that the teams are playing at their full physical and mental capacity. Because, right now, playing every three days, such a condensed schedule, with the type of travelling in and out, for sure it affects fatigue, it affects fitness levels, concentration levels in some moments. And that is something that is a new experience for all of us.”

The journey to the playoffs isn’t getting any easier. The MLS released its schedule for the rest of the year Tuesday, confirming speculation that the ’Caps will not play another game in Vancouver this season.

Instead, the club will keep its “home base” in Portland, living in a hotel, training at the University of Portland and hosting six games at Providence Park.

Dos Santos has previously referred to the first of those games as a “fictitious home game” because Vancouver will play the Portland Timbers, who have called Providence Park home since 2011.

The ’Caps will also host Real Salt Lake on Oct. 10, LAFC on Oct. 14, the San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 24 and the Seattle Sounders on Oct. 27 and the L.A. Galaxy on Nov. 8.

Vancouver has five more road games this year, starting with Wednesday’s match against LAFC. The team will also visit the Sounders on Oct. 3, the Earthquakes on Oct. 7, the Galaxy on Oct. 18 and the Timbers on Nov. 1.