TORONTO – Toronto FC are still buzzing after an away win over Orlando City SC, and that cheery mood turned into goodwill at training Wednesday as players continue preparations for Philadelphia this weekend.
But, for tonight, the players and coaches allow themselves a bit of distraction as the team’s bitter rivals, the Montreal Impact, take on Club América in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final (8 pm ET; Fox Sports 2, UniMás - USA; Sportsnet World, TVA Sports 2 - CAN).
To those outside the two cities the rivalry may not seem too serious, but for Torontonians and Montrealers there is no fan passion more deeply rooted than this derby. Cheering for Club América is off the table, though, for Toronto local Ashtone Morgan, who allowed himself a chuckle before offering a branch of support for his fellow Canadians, when asked who he’d be cheering for.
“Honestly, I wish them all the best,” Morgan offered, with sincerity. “Especially because they’re representing Canada and as well as MLS. I wish them the best tonight, and hopefully they do follow through. It would be a great accomplishment for Canada, as well as for Montreal. I have teammates from the men’s national team there, so I’ll be rooting for them too.”
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While the players embrace the occasion, some of Toronto FC’s coaching staff tried to remain stoic, too. Assistant coach Dan Calichman only offered a “no comment,” with a laugh, when asked where his allegiances lay on the evening, but then added he does love Major League Soccer and left it at that.
Morgan seems to speak for the rest of Toronto FC’s roster, too: born and raised in Toronto, he has no qualms with supporting Montreal, and so, neither do his teammates, including Nick Hagglund, the team’s resident rivalry guru.
Hagglund is no stranger to fuelling the fires of rivalry; the Ohio-born defender had no problem throwing down when Toronto FC took on his hometown team, Columbus Crew SC, earlier this season, telling reporters, then, that he wanted to “beat them, bad!”
But Hagglund has no problem cheering for Montreal, despite the Impact being another team he so relishes defeating.
“I will absolutely cheer for them,” Hagglund said, enthusiastically. “It’s MLS. Sorry if people don’t like that answer! I can see people not enjoying that. But, no, it’s MLS, it’s our league and we want to be the best league. Winning the CCL would be great. Even though they’re our rivals, right now, they’re our friends.”
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Friends in the symbolic sense, sure, but also in the literal sense, as former Toronto FC winger Dominic Oduro has become an instant fan favourite in Montreal. Oduro has taken to the occasion like no other, shaving the Montreal fleur-de-lis on the side of his head and dying his hair blue, too.
“It’s beautiful,” Hagglund said, with a laugh. “Just beautiful. It always is. We’re excited to see him play. We hope he puts on a great performance.”
Cheering for Montreal is one thing: believing they can win, another.
Hagglund says the first leg does bode well for Toronto FC’s bitter rivals, though.
“I was very impressed with how they went to them,” Hagglund said. “On an away game, to take it to them so early, I thought, was very impressive and gutsy of them. And I think Club América was a little scared of that. I’m excited to see what they do tonight. Hopefully they’ll be resilient and pull off a win tonight.”
