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Toronto FC fans did not have a whole lot to cheer about in their team’s 1-0 defeat to Chivas USA on Saturday. With the loss, the Reds are now 0-5 to start the 2012 MLS season and there has not been a lot for fans to positive about in terms of their team’s league play so far. That said, if there was a bright spot in a painful loss it had to be the return to the pitch of one of the most likeable and defensively proficient players that Toronto FC has fielded in its short existence.
Playing his first match after a long layoff due to a serious knee injury, 2012 Toronto FC Most Valuable Player Adrian Cann looked very much like he had never been gone, winning pretty much every ball in the air and clearly any danger in front of the TFC net.
RedNation Online recently caught up with the Canadian International to get his thoughts on his long awaited return to active duty, the loss to Chivas and TFC’s early season struggles.
As a player who genuinely loves playing the game, the experienced 6’3 central defender was quick to express his appreciation at being back on the pitch after such a significant layoff.
“It felt great, just stepping back on the field in front of the fans that we have and feeling the atmosphere that we have. And playing the full ninety, it’s been over ten months since I have done that, so, yeah, it felt great. Other than the result, I feel good,” said Cann.
While the obvious merits of the MLS Reserve for young players and players not playing many minutes in league matches have been well documented, Cann also admitted that a couple of previous appearances with the Reserves were vital for him as a player returning from injury in terms of giving him adequate preparation to again compete at the MLS level.
“It was great to play in those games, just getting the touches on the ball and playing with the guys around you. I think it is crucial, especially coming off a long term injury.”
With the Reds having struggled with defensive errors in recent weeks, many fans and pundits have basically anointed Cann and Torsten Frings as club saviours, with many counting the days until the two injured veterans could step back into the starting eleven. While several commentators have also stated their belief that it would not be fair to expect too much from Cann right off the bat due to his return from a long term injury, the affable Toronto native admitted he relishes the pressure and his position as a key defender on Toronto FC.
“No, it doesn’t provide any extra pressure at all. It motivates me to rise to that challenge. I think we have the ability as a team to get the results. We just need to dig deep. We are creating the opportunities and all we have to do is bury one or two of them and then work it from there. Right now we need goals, results and momentum. We have to put our opportunities away and our job as defenders is to keep opposition goals out of the net.”
While Cann was one of TFC’s top performers against Chivas, from a team standpoint the Reds once again suffered a breakdown defensively on an opposition set piece. When asked to explain how TFC would be able to improve an area that has plagued the team constantly, the 31 year old defender believes that he and his teammates each have to be accountable for doing their job on the pitch and focusing that much harder on avoiding mistakes during this slump the team is currently in.
“I think we have to be more accountable. Everyone has a player they have to mark and at the beginning of the game everyone is assigned a task going into the game. You just have to stick to your tasks and mark your man. If your man scores, you are accountable. I think accountability is the most important thing. I think as a whole we are defending quite well. Mistakes do happen, but right now mistakes can’t happen.”
When asked to describe the current mood in the dressing room, Cann described a mixture of frustration at how the results have been going and a team of players that are still positive and full of fight.
“I think the guys are positive. We are giving it all that we have got to get the results. Right now it is unfortunate that we aren’t putting the ball in the back of the net or getting the three points. We are motivated and frustrated at the same time.”
I ended off my chat with Cann by asking him if he had a message for Toronto FC fans who are struggling to come to grips with the team’s poor start to the season.
“When it rains it pours. I think that once we get that next goal and first win, they can expect more to come,” stated Cann confidently.
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