Greg Vanney spoke to members of the media on Friday ahead of Sunday's derby match in Montreal. Here's what he had to say...
On Altidore, Bradley and Giovinco’s success against Montreal this season
When we get all three of them on the field, when they three of them are connecting with each other and also bringing everybody else into the game and get the ball moving we become a very difficult team to play against. It’s good to have everybody healthy and in good form as we approach the most important time of the year.
On what’s led to Montreal’s surge since the coaching change
When you have the addition of a big player like Drogba, who is just a positive influence, I think that’s one of his biggest things. You can see him giving positive feedback and interaction with the rest of the team and bringing guys along. That kind of coincides with a coaching change and I don’t pretend at all to know what the relationship was between the coach and the players prior to the coaching change so I don’t really have a comment on that. A number of factors happened at one time. They’ve built momentum, they’ve built confidence and they have a good team. It will be a tough game, no question. We’re going to be fighting it out in the final game to see who can get in the best possible position for the playoffs.
On getting back on the road
We’re ready for it. We had a good run at home. We obviously didn’t finish the homestand the way we wanted to, but we’re confident with who we are and what we need to do as we hit the road again. We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs but we’re very sure of what we want to do once we get [to Montreal].
On the Toronto - Montreal rivalry
It’s games like these that are truly meaningful that will bring out the most in the [rivalry]. Sometimes in the regular season games you feel it but I think when it comes down to playoff games or playoff positioning games like [this Sunday] you really start to feel the rivalry come out because now they’re truly, truly meaningful. Everybody knows what’s at stake and I think the hostility will rise to a different level which is exciting. It’s exciting for the rivalry, it’s exciting for the sport. I know we as a group, and I’m sure them as a group, are looking forward to it. This is what it’s all about. We’ve waited a long time to get into this position.
