Toronto FC have definitely strengthened their squad throughout the postseason and an all-Canadian derby would be the ultimate test for their side but their rivals from the west have also made huge changes, and when the two face off with each other on Saturday it will give us an early indication of who is going to have the upper hand among the Canadian MLS teams this season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps enter their fifth season in MLS with high hopes after a successful 2014 campaign, in which they qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, set a new club record with 50 points, and secured their first-ever CONCACAF Champions League berth as the top Canadian team. 22 players return from last season including captain and reigning MLS Newcomer of the Year Pedro Morales. Head coach Carl Robinson brought in three new center backs and Young Designated Player striker Octavio Rivero, who scored a team-high three goals in six preseason appearances.
Toronto, on the other hand, brought in Designated Players Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco for Jermaine Defoe and Gilberto to add to the depth of the squad the Canadian side has with players like Michael Bradley as the new captain, replacing Steven Caldwell. Toronto also brought in French pair Damien Perquis and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou who are expected to play on expectations alongside the aforementioned players.
Surely whatever is in the cards for opening day, surely first blood will be drawn as both sides with quality players and depth should be an ideal and amazing matchup, especially so early in the season.
Quotes:
''They’re a team that hasn’t made a bunch of changes this last offseason. They’ll be very mobile, with very quick players that can get in and out of gaps. Obviously with Manneh he can get in behind and take people on.”- Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney
"We have some real bite to us this year. We can be a nasty team and play beautiful soccer at the same time so it's kind of that beauty and beast thing going on."- Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert