TORONTO – A message is inscribed atop a bridge on Queen Street over the Don River in Toronto, linking downtown to the East End: This river I step in is not the river I stand in.
Inspired by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, it reminds passers-by that all is in flux, change the only constant. Glory is fleeting: When it presents itself, it must be grasped.
Toronto FC will have the opportunity to do just that on Wednesday night when the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs continue with the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at BMO Field against the Montreal Impact (7 pm ET; FS1, TSN1/3/4/5, RDS).
This moment has been three-plus years in the making – though one could argue 10 – beginning in earnest with TFC's hirings of general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Greg Vanney.
But change is a constant in MLS too, where significant roster turnover from one season to the next is the norm. TFC president Bill Manning has said there will not be a drastic overhaul, but 2017's TFC will not be the same.
There are the Michael Bradley-to-Europe rumors, Will Johnson expressing an interest in testing free agency, and Armando Cooper's loan coming to an end.
As such, there should be an urgency in making the most of this opportunity. There is, but not for that reason.
“Not because of the potential breakup of the team, [but] because of the chance of where we are. You don't get to conference final every year,” said Johnson, a two-time MLS Cup champion, on Saturday. “To feel that you're 90 minutes away from the ultimate prize is something that motivates to the maximum. That's what we're feeling; that's what we're concentrating on. We feel this group has the potential to do that; we want to fulfill our potential.”
Vanney agrees.
“There should be an urgency in general. To get to this point, to be one game away from the final, playing at home,” he said, “we should all feel the urgency. It's not easy to get here. There's nothing but urgency in the way we approach this game.
“What happens at the end of this year, we'll see,” continued Vanney. “[We] have to deal with salary cap and everything else, but this group of players have enough to accomplish something over the next couple weeks. It'll require an incredible effort and performance to get that chance. This is one they should try to get; they shouldn't let this one slide by, that's for sure.”
Montreal enter the match with the slimmest of advantages, leading 3-2 on aggregate, but fully aware that the two late away goals TFC bagged in the first leg could easily turn the tide. With so much at stake, some nerves would be justified, at least in some mere mortals.
Not for Toronto.
“It's excitement,” said defender Steven Beitashour with a grin. “All that hard work that we put in preseason, all those trainings … I was reading [NFL legend] Junior Seau's book and he says, 'I get paid to practice. I play on Sundays for free'. We play on Saturdays – on this occasion, Wednesday – for free. Those days that people don't see, where we're grinding on practice field, preparing for the long haul, it's excitement that's building up. We're almost to the finish line.”
And what's more, should Toronto achieve this next goal, they'd host the MLS Cup final, now that Seattle has beaten Colorado in the Western Conference Championship.
“A final is a final and that's the goal: to win this final and get to the final for the MLS Cup,” said Sebastian Giovinco through a translator on Monday. “Knowing that [if] we win, the MLS Cup final will be in Toronto – that is an additional motivation.”
