Whitecaps: Mental game crucial when Vancouver goes on tour

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Vanni Sartini is not known for keeping his opinions to himself.

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During training, the Vancouver Whitecaps head coach regularly runs up and down the field, shouting instructions in several languages ​​and gesticulating wildly.

His relative restraint at Tuesday’s meeting was conspicuous, but as the ‘Caps (13-8-6) prepare for a series of important matchups – starting with a visit to the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday – Sartini is “biting his tongue.”

“I think coaching at this time is more about planning than coaching on the field,” he said Tuesday.

The Whitecaps travel to Texas with a four-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. The streak is due to the quality of the players and a schedule that features just one game per week, Sartini said.

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“We had time to train every week and because we had a lot of good players, the quality of training was pretty high. And that was reflected in what we did on Saturday,” he said.

“The next few weeks will be harder because you’re basically not training, you’re always playing and recovering each time. So it’s also hard to try things out. I think the mental part will be more important than the quality of the football technique and tactics themselves.”

Wednesday’s game is the second of seven matches the club will play within 21 days.

On Saturday, the Whitecaps will be in California to face league leaders LA Galaxy.

With just seven games left in the Major League Soccer regular season, the ‘Caps sit sixth in the crowded Western Conference, with just four points separating the second-place and seventh-place teams.

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Vancouver is currently one point ahead of Houston and both teams are fighting for a top-four spot that will give them home-court advantage for the playoffs.

The players know what’s at stake in this midweek game, but the standings aren’t the first thing on their minds, said Caps defenseman Sam Adekugbe.

“I’m sure it’s in the back of your mind, but not necessarily because it distracts you from what you really need to focus on, which is the three points,” he said. “And we’ve got a good team. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get a result.”

The Whitecaps have already faced Dynamo once this season, losing 4-3 at BC Place on July 20.

The game was “chaos,” said Caps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

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“It was a pretty strange game,” he said. “They create chaos. That’s why we have to control the game. So if we score or concede a goal, we have to stay in the game.”

Houston is on a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) after recording a decisive 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday.

“They are obviously in good form and have a good style of football, really cheesy,” said Takaoka. “So we have to be very patient. We have to play solidly for 90 minutes.”

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-8-6) at HOUSTON DYNAMO (12-8-8)

Wednesday, Shell Energy Stadium

ONE AND OUT: Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed will miss Wednesday’s game with a bruised quadriceps but is expected to join the team ahead of Saturday’s game in LA. Midfielder Andres Cubas will return to Vancouver’s starting lineup after missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury and forward Brian White is expected to start on the bench after missing three games with a concussion.

HISTORY BOOKS: Vancouver has a 10-9-5 lead over Houston in the regular season.

STREET WARRIOR: The ‘Caps are 7-4-3 on the road this season and have a chance to set new club records for both away wins and points in MLS. The current highs (seven wins, 24 points) were set in 2015.

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