TORONTO – Toronto FC boss Greg Vanney said he used his team's bye week to look at their strengths and weaknesses and improve from within.
That internal strength will be put to the test this Sunday, when shorthanded TFC travel to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake.
It is the third of seven straight away games to start the season as Toronto FC's BMO Field home undergoes refurbishing, but the need for strength has more to do with lineup absences.
Toronto FC’s US national team duo, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, are away for international friendlies against Denmark and Switzerland. The club's appeal of Justin Morrow’s red-card suspension was denied on Wednesday morning. Several defenders are dealing with injuries, with Steven Caldwell, Mark Bloom and Eriq Zavaleta all questionable for Sunday’s encounter and Damien Perquis coming off a minor calf strain of his own.
“Everybody’s going to be in play for this weekend in terms of options,” Vanney told reporters at training Tuesday. “Everybody needs to be ready to play, and everybody needs to be ready to contribute. I have no real doubts that guys will be ready. For me, it’s not a problem.”
However, in a bit of good news-bad news for the team, Italian international Sebastian Giovinco remains with the squad, with national-team manager Antonio Conte opting to call up other players instead.
“We were on pins and needles waiting to find out if there was going to be another player that we needed to make adjustments to fill that spot,” Vanney admitted. “I’m sure on some level [Giovinco] wanted to be there, and for that, I feel for him. I’m sure he’ll get his chance. But for us, we’re happy that we have him as an option here.”
While Vanney deals with the headaches of injuries, suspension appeals, international call-ups and Salt Lake's high altitude, former RSL veteran Robbie Findley is excited to return to his old stomping grounds. Findley admitted that the altitude is an advantage for RSL but said he is confident in TFC's own fitness work during the bye week and preseason. Vanney’s plan of action includes a late flight into Salt Lake City to minimize the time spent in the altitude.
For Findley, the match provides him an opportunity to meet up with old friends and, most importantly, attempt to help earn all three points for his new club.
- Find more Reds news at TorontoFC.ca
“I can’t wait,” Findley said of Sunday’s match against his former side. “They’re definitely a good team, and there are a lot of good guys on the team still that I talk to. They have a good crowd. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be happy to see the guys on the team, and the fans might hopefully get me a good ovation. The fans have been great since Day 1.”
It will be the first time Findley plays in front of the Real Salt Lake crowd as an opposition player, having spent the majority of his MLS career with the Utah-based outfit where he made his name. What sort of reception is that long time former player expecting?
“I have no clue!” Findley admitted, grinning. “Hopefully it’s not bad. They have great fans, and I did a lot for them as well, so we’ll see.”
