TFC back in training camp

‘New journey’ awaits after MLS Cup loss

There was no escaping Toronto FC’s painful MLS Cup final loss to Seattle for fullback Steven Beitashour.

He was reminded of the Dec. 10 penalty shootout defeat every day.

“Anyone that I talked to that I didn’t talk to the day before brought it up,” he said. “So it was often.

“Being home, seeing family and friends and relatives, every person brought it up. But it’s the nature of the beast. You just talk about it and you know that you gave it your all, which we did — every single player. But it was unfortunate that day.”

The bitter loss serves as motivation for Toronto players as they opened training camp after an off-season of little more than six weeks. But coach Greg Vanney is not lingering on the past.

His message to the team is simple.

“Last year is over,” he said. “We start a new process and a new journey this year. Our mindset and goal needs to be just to get better every single day. For me, our starting point this year should be better than it has been the last couple of years.”

Fullback Justin Morrow says he, for one, has got over his miss in the penalty shootout.

“I’m past that. I’ve moved forward,” he said.

There has been subtraction but not much addition in the off-season other than the MLS SuperDraft, which netted Notre Dame centre back Brandon Aubrey and four other youngsters, and the signing of homegrown midfielder Sergio Camargo.

All 11 starters from the MLS Cup final are back.

Veteran midfielder Will Johnson (Orlando City) and reserve defenders Josh Williams (Columbus Crew) and Mark Bloom (Atlanta United) have left the fold.

Reserve midfielders Daniel Lovitz and Chris Mannella as well as third-string goalkeeper Quillan Roberts have also moved on.

Toronto has made no secret of the fact that it is looking for an attacking midfielder to add some offence. Vanney says he expects only one or two additions.

There are currently some 34 players in camp, including veteran French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou, whose new contract is nearing completion.

Star striker Sebastian Giovinco was front and centre Tuesday, cheerfully holding court with reporters in English for the first time.

“I think we’re a good team,” said the Italian, who has 39 goals and 31 assists in 61 regular season games with Toronto. “We’ve changed a little bit but we are almost the same as last year.”

Giovinco also reiterated that he is content in MLS, saying he had told friends back home: “I like it here and I’m happy.”