When Jesper Sorensen looks at the Vancouver Whitecaps, he sees a strong foundation B次元官网网址� one he believes he can build on now that heB次元官网网址檚 been named head coach.
B次元官网网址淚 think that we might be able to adjust a little bit,B次元官网网址� he said in an introductory press conference Tuesday. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not here to make a revolution B次元官网网址� because I can see that theyB次元官网网址檝e done a great job so far B次元官网网址� but to make an evolution to try and make some adjustments so we can get better from a very good starting point.B次元官网网址�
Sorensen, 51, comes to Vancouver from Brondby IF in the Danish Superliga where he spent two seasons as head coach following two and a half as an assistant.
He also spent more than a year as head coach of DenmarkB次元官网网址檚 under-21 national squad, and played more than 300 matches as a midfielder in DenmarkB次元官网网址檚 top league.
Sorensen lived in Toronto a few years ago while his wife, Pernille, an oncologist, worked on research there. He said the couple and their three sons loved their time in Canada, even making a short visit to Vancouver.
The hire answers one major question for a Whitecaps side that weathered a tumultuous off-season.
In mid-November, exuberant Italian Vanni Sartini was been fired as head coach. A month later, news emerged that ownership was putting the club up for sale.
Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster did not provide an update on the sale process Tuesday, saying only that it would take time.
Sorensen said he isnB次元官网网址檛 concerned about the pending business.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 here to coach the team, and IB次元官网网址檓 pretty confident that thereB次元官网网址檚 a team to coach,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o thatB次元官网网址檚 what was important for me.B次元官网网址�
Sorensen takes over a B次元官网网址楥aps team that finished the 2024 season with a mediocre 13-13-8 regular-season record.
The campaign included the club winning a third-straight Canadian Championship title, but the team limped through the end of the MLS season and was ousted from the playoffs in the first round by Los Angeles FC.
B次元官网网址淚 think we have said several times that we have been happy with most of our progress and development over the last years,B次元官网网址� Schuster said.
B次元官网网址淏ut that we felt that we lost a little bit the speed, we lost a little bit the energy at the end of last season.B次元官网网址�
The Whitecaps interviewed a number of candidates while searching for the sixth full-time head coach in club history, Schuster said. Part of what set Sorensen apart was his proven record of taking over teams and quickly having a positive impact as a coach.
During his time leading Brondby, the team went from 10th in the league to finishing the 2023-24 season in second place with the second-least goals conceded, the second-best goal differential and the third-most goals scored in the league.
Under Sartini, the B次元官网网址楥aps often allowed their opponents to control possession and made use of speed and captain Ryan GauldB次元官网网址檚 playmaking abilities to create offensive opportunities.
Sorensen said he wants his team to be known as a tactically strong group that plays close together and has more control of the ball.
B次元官网网址淚n this league, thereB次元官网网址檚 a guy called (Inter Miami superstar Lionel) Messi,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou cannot control him when he has the ball, but you can try to affect him to play. But if you have the ball, you can control it, and then you can control better the outcome of whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen.B次元官网网址�
VancouverB次元官网网址檚 goal differential last season was a middling +3 in MLS play, but the squad boasts some high-quality offence in Gauld and striker Brian White.
White led the team with 15 goals last year and Gauld contributed 10 goals and 15 assists. The Scottish attacking midfielder was tied for third most helpers in the league.
B次元官网网址淔rom what IB次元官网网址檝e seen from the players in the games I watched B次元官网网址� and I donB次元官网网址檛 know them that well yet B次元官网网址� but they have the qualities to do it. I saw a game where they scored five against Portland. LetB次元官网网址檚 see if we can try to copy that,B次元官网网址� Sorensen said.
B次元官网网址淔ootball is also about entertainment B次元官网网址� And the best way to entertain somebody in soccer and football is scoring goals, right?B次元官网网址�
Time for Sorensen to make his mark ahead of the MLS season is fleeting.
Just hours after TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 introductory press conference, the Whitecaps were set to fly to Spain where theyB次元官网网址檒l spend more than three weeks training.
Players and staff will return to Vancouver in mid-February ahead of the clubB次元官网网址檚 first game on Feb. 20 when the team visits Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa to kick off a two-legged CONCACAF Champions League matchup.
Vancouver will play its first MLS game of the year on Feb. 23 when it visits the Timbers before hosting Saprissa on Feb. 27. The B次元官网网址楥aps will hold their home opener when the L.A. Galaxy visit on March 2.
Adjusting to a new coach will take some time, Sorensen said, but he expects his players will start picking up some of the new tactics heB次元官网网址檒l introduce before they leave Spain.
B次元官网网址淭hings donB次元官网网址檛 happen overnight. All the habits we have put in the back of our brains, and they are there for a long time, and you have to really work them out if you need to do something different,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲e are not perfect all the time, and we can live with some mistakes. But we work with the right intentions all the time, and then we go and make progress.B次元官网网址�
