Toronto FC returned from a bye week that saw the players given a few extra days off to recharge the ol’ batteries before a busy three-game stretch.
What’s on the line for the Reds? The next three games come at home against Eastern Conference rivals. Points to close out June will give TFC some breathing room before losing a number of players to the Gold Cup.
The importance of Saturday’s match against fast rising New York City FC wasn’t lost on Vanney.
“For us it’s about continuing to progress,” said Greg Vanney following training on Tuesday. “We still have ground to make up in terms of getting better as a team.”
“Especially with expansion teams, they’re also new groups and they’re starting to learn more about themselves. New York has picked up a couple wins in their last few games and you can tell from [NYCFC head coach] Jason Kreis’s comments that he’s feeling better about how their team is playing.”
David Villa is fresh off a player of the week performance against the Montreal Impact where Spain’s all-time leading scorer slotted in his team leading fourth goal of the season. Kreis’s team coasted to a comfortable 3-1 win at home for their second consecutive victory.
Villa will be the danger man on Saturday, but it’s about more than one player for the coaching staff.
"It's very hard in this league to have a single guy be a difference maker,” said Vanney. ”You have to have structure around you."
NYCFC is benefitting from the improved play of Villa’s teammates, allowing the former Barcelona star to do what he does best.
Meanwhile, Michael Bradley rejoined the squad after leading the United States to a pair of impressive victories against the Netherlands and Germany.
Bradley played a major role in both wins with a pair of jaw dropping assists in each game.
“As a team we’re not good enough yet to write games off as friendlies,” said Bradley following training.
“Everytime we step on the field we have to be committed to playing for each other, playing well and to using it as a chance to move ourselves forward and I think we were able to do that.”
Bradley kept a close eye on the events at RFK Stadium last weekend as his teammates took three big points against the Eastern Conference leaders.
“I knew that training was going to be a little bit on the lighter side the next day so I stayed up and watched the game on my computer,” Bradley said.
“It’s never easy to watch, that’s for sure, but it was an incredible result and D.C. have shown in the past year and a half that they’re a very good team and they’re very difficult to play against at home. For us to go there and be able to come away with a good win should serve as reinforcement about the group that we have.”
The Reds return to the training field on Wednesday and will have Jonathan Osorio and Ashtone Morgan back in the fold after their stint with the Canadian national team.
