Not yet vacation time for TFC veterans as the Reds head to Florida

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Toronto FC coach Javier Pérez says everything is “as usual” heading into Wednesday night’s clash in South Florida against Inter Miami, which means it will not include a group of young children. in the starting eleven.

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Social media is full of TFC fans demanding that Perez start playing with as many young players as possible in the last five MLS regular season games of the season with the Reds now out of playoff contention. Development, not victories, should be the priority, or so the argument goes.

However, Pérez doesn’t see it that way… yet. Toronto’s number one priority at this point in the season is the Canadian Championship and the game everyone in the club is preparing for is the semi-final of that tournament on November 3 at BMO Field against Pacific FC. With the MLS playoffs out of the picture, winning the Voyageurs Cup and thus qualifying for the 2022 Concacaf Champions League could save what has been a hugely disappointing 2021 for the Reds. And that’s why Perez isn’t prepared to use the four MLS games leading up to the Canadian Championship semifinal simply as a player-development exercise.

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“We are going to Miami and we want to do a good performance. And the best team will take to the field to obtain the best possible result, ”Pérez said this week. “Everybody knows right now that yes, we are out of the playoffs, but we still have the Canadian Championship and you can’t just show up for one game. We have to keep going, we have to keep improving (heading into the semi-final of the Canadian Championship). Hopefully we can go through some of the teams that we have right above us. It’s not just about getting points, but also about improving our position in the MLS table and preparing for next year.

“But everyone has to stay focused,” added the coach. “And it’s one game at a time and Miami is our next game and the best players will be on hand for that game to unfold and try to get a win. It has been a very difficult year for everyone, for everyone. But at the same time we want to keep improving. “

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On paper, Miami looks like a team ready to let go, even playing at home at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The Herons, who were once playoff contenders, have lost six games in a row, being outscored 16-1 during that time. Miami’s last victory was on September 14, a 1-0 win over TFC at BMO Field, a controversial game that saw a penalty kick awarded to Toronto early only to be withdrawn for review, and then Miami later scored in a penalty kick with TFC playing more than half the game with only 10 players. Pérez was not happy with the refereeing of that game and does not want it to be repeated on Wednesday.

“We want to play a game that is judged fairly, 11 to 11,” Perez said, while putting aside suggestions that Miami should be an easy pick. “Yes, it is a team that lost all these games, and the last game, away against Columbus (a 4-0 loss), it was difficult (for Miami). But the three games just before that, they only lost 1-0. So I think we are going to find a side that is strong. There are no easy teams in this league.

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The Reds are coming off a 2-0 loss to Atlanta United on Saturday night at BMO Field, ending a five-game unbeaten streak for Toronto. TFC is 2-11-2 on the road this year and the Herons are a dangerous team at home.

“I think they are similar to us. They are good players like us. But in some games they are good, in other games they don’t play very well, ”said TFC offensive midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo. “We are close, we are similar. We know we have good players and we’ll see. I hope we can have some confidence there, some points and for sure we are going to take three points.

“There is a possibility that we will find the classic (formation) that has played the most during the season, a 5-2-3. Or there is the possibility that they will go again with a 5-3-2, ”Perez said, shredding the Garzas. “But I think that in general it will be a team that will be very solid behind, with the three centrals, they will try to keep a clean sheet by helping the goalkeeper. Then, in front is (Gonzalo) Higuaín, (Robbie) Robinson, we know the speed he has, we know the quality of Higuaín. And there is a possibility (attacking midfielder Rodolfo) that Pizarro will enter the scene (on the attack). When we played in Miami (on August 21, a 3-1 loss) he had a good game against us and they will try to maintain that performance to motivate themselves against us.

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Pérez said Monday that he hopes Pozuelo and forward Jozy Altidore, who recently returned to the lineup after injury, will be able to play a few minutes in Miami. There is also the possibility that veteran central defender Chris Mavinga, who has not played since Sept. 29 due to a low back injury, could make the trip, though Pérez added that midfielder Ifunanyachi Achara, who was injured in the loss. Saturday 2-0. to Atlanta United, he’s out by at least one game.

Forward Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, the 17-year-old rising superstar from Toronto, will start against the Herons, but not just because he’s young and could use a little more development at the MLS level. Perez said the Brampton youngster has earned a spot in the starting eleven.

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