Latest news with #'Caps
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Head coach Jesper Sorensen guiding Vancouver Whitecaps to new highs
VANCOUVER - Jesper Sorensen believes in giving his players room to make mistakes. 'If you're afraid of making mistakes, you'll make nothing. That's the problem. Because you will end up making mistakes,' the Vancouver Whitecaps' head coach said in a recent interview. 'So making mistakes is a big part of a fluid game … where there's a lot of transition moments and a lot of moments where things are not going perfectly. And my job is to try to construct a safety net behind the mistakes.' Sorensen's first five months in charge haven't featured many missteps — just an astounding start to the season. A 0-0 draw against Minnesota United on Wednesday extended the club's unbeaten streak to 15 games (7-0-8) across all competitions. A third of the way through the Major League Soccer campaign, Vancouver sits atop the Western Conference standings with a 9-1-5 record. The 'Caps have also stunned giants in CONCACAF Champions Cup play this year, ousting five-time champions CF Monterrey from the round of 16 and besting Lionel Messi's Inter Miami twice in the semifinals. The team will look to write the final chapter in their fairy tale run when they face LIGA MX side Cruz Azul in the tournament final on Sunday. 'It's been a lot of fun. It's been a lot of work. And it's been a time that I couldn't have foreseen, becoming this successful,' Sorensen said. 'And it's been great. Everybody has been great.' The 51-year-old former midfielder from Aarhus, Denmark, was introduced as the MLS-era Whitecaps' sixth full-time head coach on Jan. 14, just hours before the team took off for training camp in Marbella, Spain. He replaced Vanni Sartini, the eccentric Italian whose three-and-a-half season tenure saw the 'Caps win three straight Canadian Championship titles, but fail to get past the first round of the MLS playoffs. Though he'd played more than 300 matches in Denmark's top league, Sorensen was a relative unknown for many North American soccer fans before taking the job in Vancouver. He joined the 'Caps following two years as head coach of Brondby IF in the Danish Superliga, and two and a half more as assistant. He also spent more than a year in charge of Denmark's under-21 national squad. Sorensen's track record of quickly guiding new teams to positive results and his passion for player development stood out to Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster, who also liked the coach's 'calmness and confidence in himself.' 'I would love to say that I had seen all of this coming and that I was exactly expecting this,' Schuster said. 'I have to say that he's over-delivering on the results. But in general, he is exactly what we hoped he would be.' Sorensen's first game with the 'Caps ended in a frustrating 2-1 loss to Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in Champions Cup play on Feb. 20, but the team rebounded with three straight wins across all competitions before the squad dropped its first match of the MLS season on March 22, a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. The Whitecaps have not lost since. 'I think we've played amazing football. I think we are playing entertaining football. Actually, I would be a little bit arrogant if I said that we had imagined it to be as good as it is,' said 'Caps assistant coach Jan Michaelsen, who's known Sorensen since the 1990s when they played together at Akademisk Boldklub in Denmark. 'But we have to continue. We have the quality in the team. I think we have shown the quality. Now we just have to continue. That is the hardest job.' Under Sorensen, the 'Caps have been relentless, a team that attacks in waves and isn't afraid to pick the ball off an opponent's feet. It's a style of play that suits the players, said striker Brian White, who leads the team with 15 goals across all competitions. 'I think he's allowed everyone to kind of flourish and play their kind of game, and in respect to the way we want to play as a team,' he said. 'So I think he's found a way to get the best out of everybody, and I think we're just playing really well as a team.' The new coach isn't convinced that he's found new strengths in his athletes. What he's done, Sorensen said, is find ways to play to their existing strengths by utilizing them in the right moments. 'Sometimes it's also maybe a player that hasn't had the chance often is given a chance a couple of times,' he said. 'And then he can grow with the challenge. And then you can set even higher demands on the player like that. 'And I think it's very important, because players want demands, because then they know that you have expectations for them.' Knowing they can grow makes players hungrier, said Sebastian Berhalter, who's become a stalwart presence for Vancouver this season. 'I think we always had those strengths and it's about how he just pulled them out of us,' said the midfielder, who recently earned his first call-up to the U.S. national team. 'He's been really good at talking to each individual player and making sure that we know we're all going on the same page.' While some of the team's young talent has shone under the new bench boss, a vast array of players have seen their game develop this season, said 'Caps captain Ryan Gauld. 'I'd say he's got a passion for it and he's very good at individuals and coaching the younger players,' said the attacking midfielder, who's been sidelined since early March with a knee injury. 'And us, the older boys, the more experienced boys, we're learning a lot in training sessions as well. But especially the young boys, the amount they're learning off him and picking up, little things that they can do to improve their games, is huge for them. And I think that's why everyone's been enjoying it so much.' Sorensen, too, has been learning since stepping into the job. Before joining the Whitecaps, he'd spent his entire career playing and then coaching in Denmark. The new gig has brought an abundance of travel and a chance to explore North America — if only in short bursts. On every 'Caps road trip, he tries to take a walk and see part of the city. The packed MLS schedule is a challenge, he admitted, especially when he's trying to stay in touch with his wife, Pernille, and three young adult sons back home in Denmark, scheduling calls across a nine-hour time difference. Sorensen is learning to navigate those challenges for the sport he fell in love with 'instantly' as a kid. 'I played football every day after school, and I played in school, and I played all the time. And it was great,' he said, adding that he also dabbled in badminton and handball. 'When I was a kid, we were fortunate that there was not much television. In Denmark, you only had one channel and there was no internet. So all the time you were moving. And sport was the most fun thing for me to do.' That love hasn't waned. Sorensen remains passionate about soccer and exploring all of its complexities. It's a passion that bubbles out of him as he talks about why he turned to coaching after his playing career. 'I love studying the game,' he said. 'Finding new things, seeing new trends, learning about the game because it's so complex. It's the most complex game I think there is. 'I love it. I love the game.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Head coach Jesper Sorensen guiding Vancouver Whitecaps to new highs
VANCOUVER – Jesper Sorensen believes in giving his players room to make mistakes. 'If you're afraid of making mistakes, you'll make nothing. That's the problem. Because you will end up making mistakes,' the Vancouver Whitecaps' head coach said in a recent interview. 'So making mistakes is a big part of a fluid game … where there's a lot of transition moments and a lot of moments where things are not going perfectly. And my job is to try to construct a safety net behind the mistakes.' Sorensen's first five months in charge haven't featured many missteps — just an astounding start to the season. A 0-0 draw against Minnesota United on Wednesday extended the club's unbeaten streak to 15 games (7-0-8) across all competitions. A third of the way through the Major League Soccer campaign, Vancouver sits atop the Western Conference standings with a 9-1-5 record. The 'Caps have also stunned giants in CONCACAF Champions Cup play this year, ousting five-time champions CF Monterrey from the round of 16 and besting Lionel Messi's Inter Miami twice in the semifinals. The team will look to write the final chapter in their fairy tale run when they face LIGA MX side Cruz Azul in the tournament final on Sunday. 'It's been a lot of fun. It's been a lot of work. And it's been a time that I couldn't have foreseen, becoming this successful,' Sorensen said. 'And it's been great. Everybody has been great.' The 51-year-old former midfielder from Aarhus, Denmark, was introduced as the MLS-era Whitecaps' sixth full-time head coach on Jan. 14, just hours before the team took off for training camp in Marbella, Spain. He replaced Vanni Sartini, the eccentric Italian whose three-and-a-half season tenure saw the 'Caps win three straight Canadian Championship titles, but fail to get past the first round of the MLS playoffs. Though he'd played more than 300 matches in Denmark's top league, Sorensen was a relative unknown for many North American soccer fans before taking the job in Vancouver. He joined the 'Caps following two years as head coach of Brondby IF in the Danish Superliga, and two and a half more as assistant. He also spent more than a year in charge of Denmark's under-21 national squad. Sorensen's track record of quickly guiding new teams to positive results and his passion for player development stood out to Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster, who also liked the coach's 'calmness and confidence in himself.' 'I would love to say that I had seen all of this coming and that I was exactly expecting this,' Schuster said. 'I have to say that he's over-delivering on the results. But in general, he is exactly what we hoped he would be.' Sorensen's first game with the 'Caps ended in a frustrating 2-1 loss to Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in Champions Cup play on Feb. 20, but the team rebounded with three straight wins across all competitions before the squad dropped its first match of the MLS season on March 22, a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. The Whitecaps have not lost since. 'I think we've played amazing football. I think we are playing entertaining football. Actually, I would be a little bit arrogant if I said that we had imagined it to be as good as it is,' said 'Caps assistant coach Jan Michaelsen, who's known Sorensen since the 1990s when they played together at Akademisk Boldklub in Denmark. 'But we have to continue. We have the quality in the team. I think we have shown the quality. Now we just have to continue. That is the hardest job.' Under Sorensen, the 'Caps have been relentless, a team that attacks in waves and isn't afraid to pick the ball off an opponent's feet. It's a style of play that suits the players, said striker Brian White, who leads the team with 15 goals across all competitions. 'I think he's allowed everyone to kind of flourish and play their kind of game, and in respect to the way we want to play as a team,' he said. 'So I think he's found a way to get the best out of everybody, and I think we're just playing really well as a team.' The new coach isn't convinced that he's found new strengths in his athletes. What he's done, Sorensen said, is find ways to play to their existing strengths by utilizing them in the right moments. 'Sometimes it's also maybe a player that hasn't had the chance often is given a chance a couple of times,' he said. 'And then he can grow with the challenge. And then you can set even higher demands on the player like that. 'And I think it's very important, because players want demands, because then they know that you have expectations for them.' Knowing they can grow makes players hungrier, said Sebastian Berhalter, who's become a stalwart presence for Vancouver this season. 'I think we always had those strengths and it's about how he just pulled them out of us,' said the midfielder, who recently earned his first call-up to the U.S. national team. 'He's been really good at talking to each individual player and making sure that we know we're all going on the same page.' While some of the team's young talent has shone under the new bench boss, a vast array of players have seen their game develop this season, said 'Caps captain Ryan Gauld. 'I'd say he's got a passion for it and he's very good at individuals and coaching the younger players,' said the attacking midfielder, who's been sidelined since early March with a knee injury. 'And us, the older boys, the more experienced boys, we're learning a lot in training sessions as well. But especially the young boys, the amount they're learning off him and picking up, little things that they can do to improve their games, is huge for them. And I think that's why everyone's been enjoying it so much.' Sorensen, too, has been learning since stepping into the job. Before joining the Whitecaps, he'd spent his entire career playing and then coaching in Denmark. The new gig has brought an abundance of travel and a chance to explore North America — if only in short bursts. On every 'Caps road trip, he tries to take a walk and see part of the city. The packed MLS schedule is a challenge, he admitted, especially when he's trying to stay in touch with his wife, Pernille, and three young adult sons back home in Denmark, scheduling calls across a nine-hour time difference. Sorensen is learning to navigate those challenges for the sport he fell in love with 'instantly' as a kid. 'I played football every day after school, and I played in school, and I played all the time. And it was great,' he said, adding that he also dabbled in badminton and handball. 'When I was a kid, we were fortunate that there was not much television. In Denmark, you only had one channel and there was no internet. So all the time you were moving. And sport was the most fun thing for me to do.' That love hasn't waned. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sorensen remains passionate about soccer and exploring all of its complexities. It's a passion that bubbles out of him as he talks about why he turned to coaching after his playing career. 'I love studying the game,' he said. 'Finding new things, seeing new trends, learning about the game because it's so complex. It's the most complex game I think there is. 'I love it. I love the game.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rolling Vancouver Whitecaps set for emotional rematch vs Minnesota United
VANCOUVER — Ryan Gauld didn't expect to be the Vancouver Whitecaps' biggest cheerleader this season. The Scottish attacking midfielder has been the team's top playmaker since he arrived in Vancouver in 2021, and put up 10 goals and 15 assists in Major League Soccer play last season. He's been limited to just three league games this year, though, after going down with a knee injury on March 8 — and when he'll rejoin the team remains unclear. His absence hasn't slowed the 'Caps. Vancouver (9-1-4) heads into Wednesday's matchup with Minnesota United (7-3-5) riding a 14-game unbeaten streak (7-0-7) across all competitions. The game will be a tune-up for a Whitecaps side that's set to play one of the biggest games of the club's history on Sunday when Vancouver meets LIGA MX club Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City. Missing big games — including a pair of Champions Cup clashes against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami — hasn't been easy, Gauld admitted. "I think at any point it's tough to be injured, but even more so when we're winning a lot of games," he said. "It does make it hard for myself, because you want to be involved. But it also makes it easier with everyone in good spirits … Hopefully I'm back soon, but until I am, I hope the winning continues." Gauld likes what he's seen from his teammates so far this year. The 'Caps sit atop the MLS standings and hold a four-point cushion for No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. Even in recent games where the team hasn't had the best performance, the group has shown a lot of resilience, Gauld said. 'Yeah, people can say it's not been our best performances. But the boys have dug in and got results out of them," he said. The Whitecaps have already downed Minnesota once this year, taking a 3-1 road victory back on April 27. The Loons have been in good form since, and head to Vancouver undefeated in their last three games (2-0-1) after drawing Austin FC 1-1 on Saturday. 'It's a very solid team," Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said of Minnesota. "They have a distinct style of play, and they have very strong set pieces. They're very strong in the counter attacking moments. We know that it's a team that doesn't beat themselves up." Last month's game between the two clubs saw several players separated by officials after Minnesota's Joseph Rosales allegedly hurled racially insensitive remarks at Vancouver's Emmanuel Sabbi, who is Black. Rosales was later suspended three games for violating the league's non-discrimination policy. Emotions will be high heading into Wednesday's rematch, Sabbi said. "It's unacceptable the comments that he made. And we just look to get past it as humans," he said. "We've talked about keeping a cool head. And that's what we need to do for this game, myself included." Sorensen said he may also issue a reminder to his players ahead of kickoff, but that it "shouldn't be a thing that fills the room too much." Sabbi added that Rosales has not reached out or apologized for the incident. It's surprising that Black athletes still have to deal with these situations, he said. 'It's tough, of course," Sabbi said. "And we all hope that one day it won't be a thing that we have to keep going through." MINNESOTA UNITED (7-3-5) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-14) B.C. Place, Wednesday HISTORY BOOKS: The regular-season record between the two sides is even at 6-6-4. Vancouver holds a 4-3-0 edge when hosting the Loons at B.C. Place. HELLO AGAIN: Minnesota's lineup features a pair of former 'Caps. Defender Michael Boxall played for Vancouver in 2011 after being selected first overall by the club in the supplemental draft that year, and midfielder Julian Gressel spent part of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Whitecaps. WHITE GOLD?: Striker Brian White scored twice in Vancouver's 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday and now has 10 goals in league play this season. He sits second in the MLS golden boot race, three shy of Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rolling Vancouver Whitecaps set for emotional rematch vs Minnesota United
VANCOUVER – Ryan Gauld didn't expect to be the Vancouver Whitecaps' biggest cheerleader this season. The Scottish attacking midfielder has been the team's top playmaker since he arrived in Vancouver in 2021, and put up 10 goals and 15 assists in Major League Soccer play last season. He's been limited to just three league games this year, though, after going down with a knee injury on March 8 — and when he'll rejoin the team remains unclear. His absence hasn't slowed the 'Caps. Vancouver (9-1-4) heads into Wednesday's matchup with Minnesota United (7-3-5) riding a 14-game unbeaten streak (7-0-7) across all competitions. The game will be a tune-up for a Whitecaps side that's set to play one of the biggest games of the club's history on Sunday when Vancouver meets LIGA MX club Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City. Missing big games — including a pair of Champions Cup clashes against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami — hasn't been easy, Gauld admitted. 'I think at any point it's tough to be injured, but even more so when we're winning a lot of games,' he said. 'It does make it hard for myself, because you want to be involved. But it also makes it easier with everyone in good spirits … Hopefully I'm back soon, but until I am, I hope the winning continues.' Gauld likes what he's seen from his teammates so far this year. The 'Caps sit atop the MLS standings and hold a four-point cushion for No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. Even in recent games where the team hasn't had the best performance, the group has shown a lot of resilience, Gauld said. 'Yeah, people can say it's not been our best performances. But the boys have dug in and got results out of them,' he said. The Whitecaps have already downed Minnesota once this year, taking a 3-1 road victory back on April 27. The Loons have been in good form since, and head to Vancouver undefeated in their last three games (2-0-1) after drawing Austin FC 1-1 on Saturday. 'It's a very solid team,' Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said of Minnesota. 'They have a distinct style of play, and they have very strong set pieces. They're very strong in the counter attacking moments. We know that it's a team that doesn't beat themselves up.' Last month's game between the two clubs saw several players separated by officials after Minnesota's Joseph Rosales allegedly hurled racially insensitive remarks at Vancouver's Emmanuel Sabbi, who is Black. Rosales was later suspended three games for violating the league's non-discrimination policy. Emotions will be high heading into Wednesday's rematch, Sabbi said. 'It's unacceptable the comments that he made. And we just look to get past it as humans,' he said. 'We've talked about keeping a cool head. And that's what we need to do for this game, myself included.' Sorensen said he may also issue a reminder to his players ahead of kickoff, but that it 'shouldn't be a thing that fills the room too much.' Sabbi added that Rosales has not reached out or apologized for the incident. It's surprising that Black athletes still have to deal with these situations, he said. 'It's tough, of course,' Sabbi said. 'And we all hope that one day it won't be a thing that we have to keep going through.' MINNESOTA UNITED (7-3-5) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-14) Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. B.C. Place, Wednesday HISTORY BOOKS: The regular-season record between the two sides is even at 6-6-4. Vancouver holds a 4-3-0 edge when hosting the Loons at B.C. Place. HELLO AGAIN: Minnesota's lineup features a pair of former 'Caps. Defender Michael Boxall played for Vancouver in 2011 after being selected first overall by the club in the supplemental draft that year, and midfielder Julian Gressel spent part of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Whitecaps. WHITE GOLD?: Striker Brian White scored twice in Vancouver's 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday and now has 10 goals in league play this season. He sits second in the MLS golden boot race, three shy of Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
No panic for Vancouver Whitecaps following three straight draws
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps knew their hot streak wouldn't last forever. While the club is undefeated in its last 13 games across all competitions (6-0-7), Vancouver doesn't have a win since May 3 when the 'Caps downed Real Salt Lake 2-1. 'I don't think there's concern,' striker Brian White said of the team's recent run of form. 'It's normal. It's a long year, we play a lot of games, we travel a lot. There's ups and downs to every season. You can't always win every game 3-0, 4-0. 'There's going to be tough moments, but it's important for the group, and I think we have a group, that can respond well.' Vancouver (8-1-4) will have another chance to get back in the win column Saturday when the team heads to Utah to once again face RSL (4-8-2) in Major League Soccer action. Salt Lake heads into the weekend matchup following a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Vancouver battled Canadian Premier League side Valour FC to a 2-2 draw to kick off the Canadian Championship quarterfinal on Tuesday. 'We have addressed with the players that we have maybe not been at our best the last couple of games,' said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. 'We would like to perform at our best every time — it's not possible. But a couple of things we have been headlining to the players is we have to do something about it right now before it's too late.' The 'Caps have been road warriors this season, posting a 3-0-3 record away from B.C. Place. The only other MLS team still without a road loss are the Columbus Crew. Wins have been hard for the Whitecaps to come by in Utah in recent years, though, and Salt Lake has taken five consecutive home victories over Vancouver. 'We always struggle going there and getting results,' White said. 'It's going to be important that we come in with the right mentality and do everything we can to come away with three points.' The last time the 'Caps faced RSL, Vancouver dominated much of the game. Salt Lake's lone goal came on a penalty kick in stoppage time. 'I think it was a decent game overall,' said Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter. 'I think there's still more you can improve on. And hopefully we go down there and do that.' Getting wins is getting trickier for the Whitecaps as the season continues. When you face a team multiple times across the campaign, the opponents get a chance to change up their tactics, Sorensen said. The Whitecaps need to respond by making adjustments of their own, he said. 'All games are kind of chess matches, but it's very rare that you just go out and then you play in one straight line the entire game,' the coach said. 'It's 90 or maybe 100 minutes where small things can influence the momentum of the game, and it normally does, and it happens. So you have to be prepared for that.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (8-1-4) AT REAL SALT LAKE (4-8-2) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. America First Field, Saturday INS AND OUTS: Vancouver is still without attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld (knee). The Whitecaps will also miss defensive midfielder Andres Cubas, who will serve a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. Salt Lake won't have midfielder Matthew Bell (hamstring), goalkeeper Zac MacMath (back) or defender Javain Brown (knee), while midfielder Diogo Goncalves (heel) and defender Kobi Henry (hamstring) are listed as questionable. HISTORY BOOKS: Salt Lake holds a 15-14-5 record in regular-season meetings with Vancouver. The last five games between the two clubs have ended in 2-1 scorelines, with RSL victors in four of the matchups. CALLED UP: Six Whitecaps players have been called up to their national squads for next month's international break. Defender Giuseppe Bovalina is set to join Australia's U-23 team, while midfielders Jayden Nelson and Ali Ahmed, and defender Sam Adekugbe are all headed to camp with the Canadian national men's program ahead of the Gold Cup. White and Berhalter will spend time with the U.S. team, marking Berhalter's first callup to the senior squad. 'It's honestly probably the proudest moment of my life,' he said. 'This has been a dream since I was probably literally one year old. So it doesn't get much better than this.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
