Toronto FC Refuses to Rest on What They’ve Clinched
By last weekend, first place East Toronto FC clinched just about everything this season but the Supporters’ Shield for best MLS record. That makes midfielder Michael Bradley mad.
Bradley said in the Toronto Sun via USA Today that the poor Gillette Field surface didn’t steal the Supporters’ Shield from Toronto FC on Saturday. But the turf disappointed him, anyway.
"Bradley: When you talk about trying to grow the league and make every part of it better, games on terrible turf with football lines don’t do a lot to help. It’s ridiculous — the field, the (football) lines, the whole thing is a joke."
Four MLS teams share NFL stadiums, including Saturday’s victorious New England Revolution, who beat Toronto 2-1. Toronto FC need three points to clinch the Supporters’ Shield.
"We’ll find the right way to keep going and know, just as we said when things were going along in a good way, we have a good team. Nothing in that regard has changed. We’ll use the week in the right way now and make sure we get ready for a big game at home."
Toronto hosts the New York Red Bulls this weekend
Toronto Manager Greg Vanney said Bradley and teammates have what it takes to clinch the shield and make their season complete. He expects a full roster available for their remaining games this season.
Getting Key Players Back
For Saturday’s losing effort, the team missed big contributing forwards Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. The two star forwards were rested by the manager, perhaps in an effort to save their energies for a home match against the New York Red Bulls but it turned out to be a miscalculation by Vanney.
"Bradley: We have flexibility. We have guys who can play in a lot of different spots and a lot of different spots well. We felt good about the team that was out on the field. There was no doubt we were missing a few guys, but that’s not fazed us one bit all year. We certainly won’t use that as an excuse. We should’ve found a way to come away with at least a point."
Most significant, Toronto FC players and coaches aren’t willing to sit back and enjoy what they’ve already clinched. They want to climb to the next plateau of excellence, regardless of turf conditions.
That next plateau is the mark of 68 points set by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998 which is very much in reach for TFC who have 62 points with three matches to go. It will not be easy though as they face three Eastern Conference rivals in NYRB, Atlanta United, and the Montreal Impact to close the season.