Fire sale: Tchani traded to Chicago
Caps coach Robinson says Teibert’s inspired pre-season helped make veteran expendable
Russell Teibert is flying. Tony Tchani is on a flight to Chicago.
Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson lauded the pre-season play of Teibert, the sparkplug Canadian midfielder, and it was ultimately that showing that made Robinson comfortable enough to trade the defensively minded Tchani to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.
The Caps sent the Cameroonian midfielder to the Fire in exchange for $150,000 in 2018 targeted allocation money. It will be the fifth MLS team for the six-foot-four, 185-pounder.
“I’m pleased for Tony, and I’m sad for Tony. We have a very good relationship,” said Robinson, who played alongside Tchani during their tenure with Toronto FC.
“Tony came in last year at this time and did very well for us. He was part of a successful team here last year and was fully committed. Sometimes, you have to make some difficult decisions, but I decided to pull the (trigger) for this trade because they wanted him. He’s probably going to be able to play regular football there, more than he might be here. So it was the right deal for Tony.
“If I’m going to not play a player, I’d prefer to not have a senior player that’s not playing regular rather than a young player. A young player I’m able to coach and teach and make him learn, where I wouldn’t do that out of respect for Tony. It was the right deal for all parties involved.”
Tchani joined the Whitecaps at the end of March last season, after being traded to Vancouver for Kekuta Manneh, $225,000 in targeted allocation money and $75,000 in general allocation money.
Robinson continued to be open about the fact he wasn’t finished making moves, and acquiring the targeted allocation money from Chicago does open the door further for another designated player signing, as the Caps could use the cash to pay Brek Shea’s contract down below the DP threshold.
The move comes just ahead of Thursday’s MLS roster compliance deadline, as the Caps continue to make their final preparations for Sunday’s MLS regular season opener against Montreal Impact at B.C. Place.
Tchani had 28 starts and 30 appearances across all official competitions for the Whitecaps, registering four goals — one off his career high — and one assist. He also led the team with 409 successful passes in the opponents’ half.
He joins a Chicago team that finished third in the Eastern Conference last season, but was knocked out by the sixth-seeded New York Red Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. He’ll get a chance to play alongside German soccer great Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“Tony is a proven player and winner within MLS. His skill set will be complementary to our current squad and we are pleased to add his talents,” Fire president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez said.
Tchani’s trade was announced the morning after Jose Aja landed in Vancouver from Orlando. His arrival was timely, with injuries to the back line — Robinson said Doneil Henry might miss a month or more with a hamstring injury — and trade talk around Tim Parker still buzzing.
Robinson didn’t quell any rumours of the Caps moving the centre-back and fan favourite, who has been linked to several Eastern Conference teams.
Aaron Maund showed well partnering with Kendall Waston in the Caps’ final pre-season game, and would be the likely candidate to start as Aja has yet to practise with the team. Aja’s comfort level with the ball at his feet is a dynamic the Caps haven’t had to the same degree on the back end before, which could lead to the Caps playing three across the back, but it’s a formation they’ve yet to field.
“If Timmy is here, and obviously that’s the big question — there is still a possibility that he can be here, and there’s a possibility that he can’t be here — Timmy will come into the equation,” Robinson said of Parker playing Sunday against the Impact.
“There’s no problem between me and my player. He’s trained today in his shorts and T-shirt in the freezing cold, and he’s putting tackles in, so his commitment is never in doubt. We’ll take it day by day.
“We’ve got so many options now due to the strength of the squad we’ve got. We need to be braver, more comfortable in certain areas of the field, being able to build up from the back.”