The last time that Toronto FC went up against FC Dallas the end result was a 1-0 loss to a 2010 MLS Cup finalist. While that fixture marked the Major League Soccer debuts of TFC Designated Players Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans, it was Dallas forward Brek Shea who stole the show on that day. Fast forward a month and Toronto is now a revitalized squad after making a number of roster moves and integrating the new players into the TFC system over the last thirty days. And while Toronto FC Head Coach Aron Winter has the utmost respect for an FC Dallas side that currently sits high up in the MLS table, he is also confident that they will see a much different Toronto FC this time around in the CONCACAF Champions League.
“I think that in the last two months - with all the trades and all the players - that we have been making a big step forward. And, of course, tomorrow they will see a different TFC,” said Winter, who met with the press today in advance of his team’s crucial Champions League fixture on Wednesday.
With both Toronto and Dallas in Group C of CONCACAF’s premier club competition alongside Panama’s Tauro FC and one of the top teams in Mexico in Pumas UNAM, many pundits consider TFC a long shot to advance to the knockout round in the tournament. Pumas is considered to be the class of the group and they are the side that many observers expect to go through along with an experienced and seasoned FC Dallas squad. But with both Toronto and Dallas having won their first matches in the Group Stage, the team that emerges victorious on Wednesday will be in the pole position to move on to the next round.
When asked for his thoughts on why he thinks Dallas has been so successful in recent months, Winter pointed to the type of depth that he has been working to build into his own squad during his first season at the helm of Toronto FC.
“At this moment they have a big roster and at each position they have two good players. And I think that is their advantage at this moment,” said Winter.
With the recent news out of Dallas being the story that starting centre back George John has suddently left the team in order to facilitate a move to the Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League, FC Dallas Head Coach Schellas Hyndman will have to deal with the defection of one of his top defenders on the eve of Wednesday’s game. However, with Brek Shea still in top form and coming off an appearance and his first international assist with the U.S. National Team, Winter will still need to contend with a player to gave the Toronto back line fits the last time the two teams met.
“It is not only against us that Brek Shea has played well. I like him as a soccer player and he is one of the best players on Dallas. He has been a good player in all of the games that I have seen him in. Of course, when you play against your opponent, you have to be aware of and try to reduce the effectiveness of their best players. And if we are doing that, it will enable us to play our game and how we want to play football.”
While the Dutchman’s side has had to contend with fixture congestion and a very tiring travel schedule in recent weeks, Winter was in an upbeat mood and was pleased to report that his entire squad is essentially fit and ready to go against Dallas.
“The funny thing is that we went with twenty players to Panama and then straight on to Chicago. And the players that had minor (injury) problems remained here in Toronto and got some good treatment. And now we have a good roster. Some players have a little bit of soreness, but for tomorrow everybody is available.”
With starting keeper Stefan Frei one of the players who is still experiencing some soreness, Winter was asked if he will go with the hot hand in backup keeper Milos Kocic, who has been on a strong run of form over the last couple of weeks.
“It's possible, because, as I said, everybody is fit, but some of the players, including the keepers, have a little bit of soreness. We have a busy schedule and have to play a lot of games, so we want to keep everybody game fit and more than 100% fit. There is a possibility that tomorrow he is going to play.”
When asked if he had ever seen a schedule like the one his team has had to endure while competing in both CONCACAF and the league, Winter indicated that Toronto’s schedule was much heavier than anything he had ever endured previously in Europe while also lamenting the fact that the crazy travel itineraries have made it very difficult for him to train and teach his team.
“No, I have not seen a schedule like this before. A lot of people don't notice or know how tough it is on the players with all the travelling. It is not easy, especially when you are rebuilding a team. You need a lot of practice time, but you are always away or on the road and you don't have a lot of time to practice. And even when you have time to practice, then you have to take care to keep the whole group fit. It is not only physical, but also mentally that it's very hard for the team.”
Following Wednesday’s CONCACAF match and Saturday’s league fixture at home against the San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto will finally have a week off from the grind and Winter was quick to state that he was going to give his players a well deserved break.
“For that week off when we don't have any games, I am going to give the guys some free days off. Up to this time, it has been seven months with a lot of games on the road and they have only had three days off. I think with all the games, all the travelling, all the different time zones and the altitude differences, it's good for the group to give them some days off to relax.”
With Toronto still in the hunt in the Champions League, but looking all but out of the MLS playoff hunt, Winter was asked if the Champions League is now his primary focus.
“Yes and no. I think it also important for us to get results in the league, because if you don't get good results, it is not good for the confidence of the whole group. But we have started well in the CONCACAF. Tomorrow we are playing against a good opponent and we know everything there is to know about Dallas. For me it is also very important that we get a good result at home.”
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