TORONTO – If there is one lesson to be learned from this Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoff run, it's how influential of a force Michael Bradley can be for Toronto FC.
“Michael's our captain. He's our heartbeat,” said midfielder Will Johnson. “[We] feed off his energy. He is TFC. We are all strongly united behind him. The better he plays, the better we play.”
Bradley has been a force for Toronto throughout this postseason, raising his game to another level with a progression of big performances as the side navigated the Knockout Round against Philadelphia and a two-legged Conference Semifinal series against New York City FC, earning a place in the Eastern Conference Championship against the Montreal Impact.
But come last week's first leg in Montreal, where TFC lost 3-2, the Impact ran Bradley and company ragged, exposing wide gaps in the Reds' 3-5-2 formation throughout the first hour of play.
“That role in front of the back three is pivotal,” TFC manager Greg Vanney said on Saturday. “We weren't good enough with the ball; that led to a lot of transitions. When you're trying to cover left and right, and the ball is turning over quickly, you end up having to cover a ton of ground, you get caught in between things, and you end up having less impact.
"In the games previous, we were better with the ball, more organized and compact. The spacing was better, so there's less space to swim between to try to put out fires.”
Despite that momentary disappointment, Bradley did score a 73rd minute strike that pulled TFC back within one -- and gave the Reds two away goals, which could prove the difference in the series.
Heading into Wednesday's deciding match at BMO Field, TFC and their fans expect big things from No. 4.
“He's one of our best players,” goalkeeper Clint Irwin said on Tuesday. “He brings intensity every single day. You can't understate his influence. Throughout the playoffs, he's been very good. We don't expect anything less tomorrow.”
And as their captain goes, Vanney said, his teammates follow.
“It's important he has a good game," Vanney said. "If he's having a good game, it means that others around him are [too]. He's the link for us between what we do defensively and the start of what we do from an attacking standpoint. [In Montreal], we had a sub-par game from a lot of guys. I expect better this week. That, as a starting point, gives us a good chance to get a result.”
And with the reward of hosting MLS Cup on Dec. 10 against the Seattle Sounders a possibility, this is exactly what Bradley would have hoped for when he returned to MLS in 2014 -- and the same goes for forward Jozy Altidore, who made his return from overseas a year later.
“That's the reason they returned to this league,” Vanney said on Tuesday. “They wanted this moment -- the opportunity to play the big game, to get to a final, to win [it]... That's what they signed up for. This is the moment. They're looking forward to it. The guys are tired of preparation; they want to play the game. They're ready to go.”
But first, Bradley had one final message to deliver.
“We feel very good about the position we're in," he said. "This is why we play: 90 minutes at home to get to a final. Opportunities like this don't come around every day. We have a group who understand that, who are ready to embrace the game, go for it, and leave everything out on the field.”
