After wrapping up the final training session before Saturday’s match against San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC interim head coach Nick Dasovic spoke of his pride at how the players have responded since he took charge of the team.
The Reds head into the match five points behind the Earthquakes after Dwayne De Rosario’s last minute winner at Houston secured three points last weekend. That match was followed by a tactically astute display in the Champions League at Cruz Azul in midweek.
<object id="embed" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="300" height="200"><param name="movie" value="http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/embed.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="flashVars" value="catid=2&id=2468&server=http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/&pageurl=http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/&nlwa=http://track1.neulion.com/tfc/"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="200" src="http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/embed.swf" name="embed" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="catid=2&id=2468&server=http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/&pageurl=http://www.torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/&nlwa=http://track1.neulion.com/tfc/"></object> |
<p style="font-size: 10px; margin: 0pt auto;">VIDEO: Nick Dasovic speaks to the media on Friday after training.</p> |
“The thing I have been most proud of since I took over is that the players are listening to how we want to play tactically,” said Dasovic at BMO Field on Friday lunchtime. “It’s not rocket science but it is about commitment and attitude. It has been great to see that the players are all buying into it.”
Toronto head into Saturday’s match unbeaten in the last two games of their ten day road trip. After a dramatic last minute win at Houston kept playoff hopes alive, the Reds battled to a goalless draw at Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in midweek.
“Every game is do or die for us now, but the guys have been good and responded well. All we can do is take care of our results and then at the end of the season we will see if it is good enough. Guys are playing for contracts next year and to prove to the staff and directors that they belong in this city so there is added pressure in that respect as well.”
With this being the team’s seventh game in just 22 days, Dasovic will make changes to the line up tomorrow as he aims to make sure everyone is fresh for one of the most important matches of the year so far. “It would be great to have a settled starting 11 but when you have a schedule like ours over the last month it’s impossible to keep the same players out there every match so we’re looking at changing a few things again,” explained the coach.
The Earthquakes are unbeaten in their last three matches and Dasovic knows exactly what to expect from the team coached by former Canadian international Frank Yallop. “They are coached well and have been on a little bit of a roll and are playing with confidence.”
“The arrival of Geovanni has helped them because he is class up top for them. We will need to put in a workmanlike performance, shut them down and play with energy. They are a solid MLS team. We have to be prepared and make sure we are disciplined tactically. If you don’t get that right you can lose to any team in MLS.”
Discuss this with Luke on Twitter
