On Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps will play their first game in the post-Carl Robinson era with academy director Craig Dalrymple sitting in the big seat on the bench as acting head coach.
The Whitecaps' remaining schedule is difficult as they look to make the steep climb over the playoff line, beginning with a crucial heads-up match on the road against the LA Galaxy on Saturday (10 pm ET | TSN -- Full TV & streaming info). The Galaxy are one point, and one place, ahead of the Whitecaps as both chase the playoffs.
"We need to believe to start with," Dalrymple said Tuesday. "We need to believe it's possible. ... They certainly don't want the season to end after the next five games. That's a great starting point."
Dalrymple understands that some players' loyalties will remain with the departed Robinson, who brought many of the current first-teamers to the club, but knows his squad is professional and will remain locked in for the rest of the season.
"It's professional football: they've been trained to adjust and adapt to the bumps along the road, and I'm sure they will very quickly," Dalrymple said. "They'll be in the right place Saturday, for sure."
As for the style of the team, Dalrymple isn't married to the counter-attacking gameplan that the 'Caps largely have deployed in 2018. He didn't get into specifics, but promised change.
"I've got some ideas, I want to breed them and cultivate them on the training field then next couple of days," Dalrymple said. "There will be changes, for sure, there has to be."
