Whitecaps aim to finish strong in Montreal despite playoff seeding secured

Explainer

The Vancouver Whitecaps will visit CF Montreal on Saturday for their final Major League Soccer regular season game. The Whitecaps have already clinched first place in the Western Conference, guaranteeing home field advantage against any Western opponent in the playoffs. Striker Brian White said the team still has plenty to play for as it seeks three points. Defender Ralph Priso and head coach Jesper Sorensen both cautioned that Montreal, despite a difficult season, will be a tough opponent.

What are the Whitecaps playing for?

The Whitecaps hold an 18-8-7 record and have secured the top seed in the Western Conference. Brian White emphasized the team's intention to win the game. "We're out to get three points. I think that's the way we look at it," he said. "Obviously, they don't have much to play for at this moment, so you don't know how they're going to come out. But we have everything to play for, and we're going to go out with the best intention to win that game." Coach Jesper Sorensen said the team will balance immediate competitiveness with longer-term playoff planning. "We'll of course have one eye on the short game, and also one eye a little bit on the longer term," Sorensen said. "But it's also important that we keep competitiveness and the good performances we have had as of late, then we keep that going."

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Why could Montreal be a challenge?

CF Montreal has struggled this season, posting a 6-19-8 record. The club will finish last in the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Ralph Priso said the Canadian rivalry and players' individual motivations will make the game difficult. "I think any time Canadian teams are playing against each other, it's always something you get excited for," said the Canadian centre back. "So, just because they don't have really anything left to play for, I think there will be a lot of guys just playing to show themselves, to show that they're at the level that they can contribute to good teams, and so it'll be a difficult game." A bright spot for Montreal this year was a run to the Canadian Championship final, which included a 3-2 aggregate semifinal victory over the Whitecaps. Sorensen acknowledged Montreal's dangerous players. "Even though they have not had the best results [in MLS], they have some good players that could make a difference against us in that game," the coach said.

Who is available for Vancouver?

Vancouver could be without some key players for the match in Quebec. Sorensen said he does not expect defensive midfielder Andres Cubas or forward Emmanuel Sabbi to travel. However, superstar attacking midfielder Thomas Muller could return to the lineup "if he's ready to go." Brian White is expected to be available and is chasing individual honours. With three goals in Vancouver's last two games, White now has 20 on the season, placing him third in the MLS Golden Boot race behind Lionel Messi of Inter Miami (26) and Petar Musa of FC Dallas (22). White discussed maintaining his form through the season. "Obviously, stretches can happen where the ball isn’t falling back into the back of the net, maybe you don't take the chances the right way. And it’s easy for things to go sideways from there," he said. "But I try to remember the fundamentals. Focus on hold-up play. Can I stay active in the box? Can I create chances? Can I help the team defensively? So focusing on that and helping the team win is first and foremost."

For some players, the match kicks off a busy period of international duty. Ralph Priso was named to Canada's roster for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. After the game in Montreal, he will fly to Guatemala to join the national squad ahead of Canada's match there on Nov. 13. Priso said managing club and country commitments is straightforward when every game is crucial. "I don't think it's too difficult to manage when kind of every immediate thing is so important," he said. "Maybe at other points in the year you can kind of look over games, but I think we're in a part of the year and a part of the national team kind of schedule that everything that's coming is so important, and so it's easy to stay focused on the next thing." The team's collective focus remains squarely on securing a victory in Montreal to carry momentum into the playoffs.

With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and Winnipeg Sun