Vanni Sartini isnB次元官网网址檛 known for keeping his opinions to himself.
During training, the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps regularly paces the field, yelling instructions in multiple languages and gesticulating wildly.
His relative quiet at TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 session was noticeable, but as the B次元官网网址楥aps (13-8-6) gear up for a packed stretch of critical matchups B次元官网网址� starting with a visit to the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday B次元官网网址� Sartini is B次元官网网址渂iting his tongue.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 think in this period, the coaching is more the planning than the coaching on the field,B次元官网网址� he said Tuesday.
The Whitecaps head to Texas on a four-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. The stretch is due to the quality of the players and a schedule that included just one game per week, Sartini said.
B次元官网网址淲e had time to train each week and, having a lot of quality players, the quality of the training was quite high. And that translated in what we did on Saturday,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭he next few weeks is going to be harder because, basically, you donB次元官网网址檛 train and you always play and you recover every single time. So itB次元官网网址檚 hard also to try things. So I think more than the soccer technique and tactics quality itself, the mental part is going to be very important.B次元官网网址�
WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game is the second of seven that the club will play over 21 days.
On Saturday, the Whitecaps will be in California, taking on the conference-leading L.A. Galaxy.
With just seven games to go on their Major League Soccer regular-season calendar, the B次元官网网址楥aps sit sixth in the congested Western Conference where the second-place club and seventh-place club are separated by just four points.
Vancouver is currently a single point ahead of Houston, with both teams jockeying for a top-four spot that brings home-field advantage for the playoffs.
The players know whatB次元官网网址檚 at stake for the mid-week matchup, but the standings arenB次元官网网址檛 the first thing theyB次元官网网址檙e thinking about, said B次元官网网址楥aps defender Sam Adekugbe.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure itB次元官网网址檚 in the back of your mind, but not necessarily just because it takes away from what you need to really focus on, which is the three points,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd we have a good team. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no reason why we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to get a result.B次元官网网址�
The Whitecaps have already faced the Dynamo once this season, dropping a 4-3 decision at B.C. Place on July 20.
The game was B次元官网网址渃haos,B次元官网网址� said B次元官网网址楥aps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
B次元官网网址淚t was kind of a weird game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey create chaos. So we have to control the game. So if we score or concede a goal, we need to be staying in the game.B次元官网网址�
Houston comes in on a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) after posting a decisive 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last Saturday.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e obviously in good shape and good football style, like ticky-tacky,B次元官网网址� Takaoka said. B次元官网网址淪o we need to be very patient. We need to be solid for 90 minutes.B次元官网网址�
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-8-6) at HOUSTON DYNAMO (12-8-8)
Wednesday, Shell Energy Stadium
INS AND OUTS: Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed will miss WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game with a quad contusion, but is expected to join the team in L.A. ahead of SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 matchup. Midfielder Andres Cubas will return to the VancouverB次元官网网址檚 starting 11 after missing last weekB次元官网网址檚 outing with a shoulder injury and striker Brian White is expected to be on the bench after sitting out three games with a concussion.
HISTORY BOOKS: Vancouver holds a 10-9-5 edge over Houston in regular-season play.
ROAD WARRIORS: The B次元官网网址楥aps are 7-4-3 on the road this season and have a chance to set new club records in both MLS away wins and points. The current highs (seven wins, 24 points) were set in 2015.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
