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“It’s early, but I think if you look at both of our (MLS) results (this season) for me they’re mentality wins,” the coach said. “They weren’t on days where everything was perfect. It was days where guys stuck together. If things weren’t right, they worked hard for each other. Whatever running was necessary, they did it.

“I think this group has just bought in,” Vanney added. “We played some nice soccer (on Sunday) in stretches for sure, but sometimes we just had to grind and this group just pulls together and does the work and they were very happy and proud of themselves in the locker room (after the match). And in the moments when it didn’t look great, they still did it. I think that’s difference right now. It reminds me of our run in 2017. We didn’t win every game the same way, we didn’t win every game because we were always the best team, we won games because we played how we needed to play to get the result and (in Sunday’s win) I think we found that. At times we were definitely the better team but at times we had to pull together and grind it, and we did.”

The Reds are in the midst of another two-week break (their next match is March 29 at BMO Field against New York City FC) and Vanney said with a number of players, including starters Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio on international duty, they’ve adjusted their training accordingly.

“This first four or five days of training will be a little bit individual-based on what guys need and then as we come back on Monday (with Pozuelo in tow) we’ll go through our normal four-day preparation for the game on Friday and start to prepare for New York City,” he said.

BAKERO LOANED OUT

TFC forward Jon Bakero has been loaned for the season to Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship. Bakero, 22, was acquired in a trade from the Chicago Fire on July 20, 2018. He made three appearances last season for the Reds.