It’s hurting their MLS form, but Greg Vanney and co. are totally justified in this.
You can’t win ‘em all. It’s a common sports cliché that is seldom uttered around BMO Field or the training ground.
In fact, a lot of Toronto FC’s success has come in defiance of that statement. Last year, the team intentionally went into every match looking, expecting even, to win. There were no days off, and it resulted in a points record and three trophies.
Things have changed this year, however, and the biggest competition Toronto will play in all season is already in its final stage after only nine weeks. In that time they have already played twelve matches, the majority of which have come in intense CONCACAF Champions League battles.
In this case it has become clear that “winning them all,” or at least playing their first choice roster every game, is not realistic. Instead of spreading themselves too thin, Toronto FC has done the smart thing: put all their eggs in the CONCACAF basket.
Even if it doesn’t work out, and the Reds can’t claw their way back from the 2-1 final deficit they currently face in Guadalajara, it was still worth sacrificing a few league fixtures to increase their odds at Champions League glory.
Because who knows when Toronto will be back. As good as the Reds have been of late, and as likely as they are to win the Voyageurs Cup again this year considering the form of their Canadian rivals, no MLS team has ever reached two finals. This is a Toronto team at the height of its powers, the time to go for this is now.
