For Vanney and Toronto FC, winning isn't the only thing that matters

TORONTO – Saturday’s matchup between Toronto FC and New York City FC at BMO Field featured two clubs that, in recent years, are among Major League Soccer’s most accomplished.

The Canadian side has reached three of the last four MLS Cup finals. The visitors, meanwhile, have never finished lower than third in the Eastern Conference since their inaugural campaign, including last term’s first-place standing in the regular season.

But for TFC manager Greg Vanney, pedigree wasn’t what made the contest so exciting. The intrigue didn’t lie in two potential title challengers slugging it out early in the season. Instead, he felt Saturday’s meeting presented a more scholarly narrative.

“I like these games always because there’s a tactical element that’s always special whenever we play New York City,” the TFC head coach shared two days before the match. “So these games are always fun and I know the guys look forward to them as well.”

Toronto FC’s 1-0 win in their home opener wasn’t a classic, but it was what Vanney expected. It was a tight, tactical skirmish. NYCFC edged possession, but TFC were slightly more accurate with it. NYCFC racked up more passes, but TFC struck more shots. The game featured two teams trying to forge a distinctive philosophy; Vanney wants his own side’s tactical accomplishments recognized. Clearly, it’s not just about winning for Toronto FC anymore.

“I hope that people appreciate it,” Vanney told theScore after the weekend’s victory. “I hear from people around the world in various ways that they like the way we play, they like to watch our team, that we attack, that they can see the principles of what we do and they recognize that.”

Winning is obviously important, and Vanney acknowledges that his biggest concern is getting his players to understand what the club is attempting to achieve on the pitch. He wants them to adapt to situations and glean victories in a variety of ways. However, underneath all that, there’s a desire to establish an identity and build a legacy.

The goal is to win, and do it in the Toronto FC way.

“We have a style of play that we shoot for, and that’s important to us. It’s our identity and we stick to that,” Vanney continued. “That’s why all these guys are here and not many guys really want to leave. We try to keep the group together because they’ve grown together; they understand what we’re trying to do, and we keep building off of that.”

Rather than the outcome on the pitch, Vanney often focuses on the process which got them there and what improvements can be made to realize his vision. He complimented Ifunanyachi Achara, the lone scorer on Saturday, for how quickly he understands tactical instructions, and noted the polishing of Richie Laryea’s final ball while admiring the Torontonian’s overall versatility. Vanney lauded how “possession player” Jonathan Osorio has refined his “defensive reading” of the game over the past few years, and implored Erickson Gallardo to utilize his dynamism more.

The aspect of the job Vanney seems to enjoy most is working with his players at the club’s Downsview Park training facility, where he can tweak and enhance his formula.

“Coach likes to attack a lot,” Achara, the rookie who is savoring being among Vanney’s fluid attacking triumvirate, said. “So, I like when we counterattack, when we get the ball and everyone’s just looking forward. We’re not a really defensive team, we like to attack and score goals. I think I like that a lot.”

There has been indecision from Vanney in the not-too-distant past, erring from his pursuit of a balanced, cohesive unit.

He seemed infatuated by a 4-3-3 configuration early in the 2019 campaign, to the extent that he would flesh out the formation with players who were ill-suited to the slots they were jammed into. Vanney then went on to use 10 separate formations during the 2019 regular season. Last season’s flirting with different shapes and schemes was detrimental to how Toronto FC were perceived across the league and, ultimately, to the tactical imprint they are striving to leave on MLS.

Some people are yet to be convinced.

“I don’t think so,” NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson told theScore when asked if Toronto FC’s style of play made them a particularly tough side to face. “They’re a quality opponent, but I don’t think there’s anything special.”

But without being special, and without captain Michael Bradley and marquee offseason signing Pablo Piatti, Vanney’s work-in-progress extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 12 matches, stretching back to last August. Vanney himself now has 100 wins since taking over the Reds.

“It shows how much he works hard and how competent he is,” TFC shot-stopper Quentin Westberg said of the manager’s milestone. “It’s a blessing coming into practice every day and just to follow his lead and follow the tactical stuff he wants to set up.”

He added: “I really cherish and I’m really grateful to be in such an environment.”

When it comes to developing a winning and a distinguishable tactical approach, Toronto FC succeeded on both counts over the weekend.