Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann has been a rock at the heart of the defence since signing for his hometown team in April this year. On Tuesday in Mexico he captained the club for the first time and led the Reds defence with a man of the match performance, but he is quick to acknowledge it was a total team effort to hold Cruz Azul to a goalless draw.
“Nick Dasovic set out the plan from the get go and told us to sit in there and take the pressure from them and that’s what we managed to do,” said Cann who was a live studio guest on The FAN 590 Soccer Show on Thursday night. “Everyone put everything they had into the game and collectively as a team we did well and everyone did their job. It was one of the best games we have had with everyone communicating with each other.”
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<p style="font-size: 10px; margin: 0pt auto;">VIDEO: Adrian Cann's Cruz Azul clearance clinic.</p> |
“It was an honour for me to be the captain. Once Dwayne came on the field he deserved the armband so I handed it over to him, but it was great for me to be given that role on Tuesday.”
Cann, who celebrated his 30th birthday earlier this week, has proven himself to be a key addition for Toronto after returning to his native Canada this year following two seasons playing in the Danish league with Esberg FB. The former Vancouver and Montreal defender believes being back home has had a positive influence on his game.
RELATED: Listen To Cann's FAN 590 Interview
“Coming back to Toronto after a number of years away really helped me,” said Cann. “Being around this atmosphere and seeing this kind of set up with 20,000 people coming to each game and having my friends and family here to support me has been the key to my performances. My parents are always there giving me good advice, but I grew up here in Toronto and to be back in my home city feels great and it has helped me play well.”
“I listen to any comments made to me because we can all learn, and if a player has a suggestion it is because they want to help our team win. You can always get better, and players throughout our team understand that.”
And Cann doesn’t just listen. He leads by example and is credited with helping 21-year-old Canadian Nana Attakora further develop his game this season.
“Whoever plays alongside me I would love to teach them things about my game. For his age, Nana is athletically and mentally strong and observes quite well how to position himself and how to communicate and what decisions should be made. Nana is a young player but he is a very mature player.”
Cann is expected to make his 24th league start of the season when Toronto take on San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Field on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. live on CBC.
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