Jim Brennan and Toronto FC host Real Madrid Friday in an international friendly. (Rene Johnston/Canadian Press)It's not as though Toronto FC players aren't excited about their exhibition match Friday against Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.
It's just that they have more pressing concerns right now, namely helping the team qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs for the first time.
To be sure, Toronto players are enthusiastic about Friday's showdown at BMO Field against Real Madrid, the legendary Spanish side that boasts a roster of glittering superstars - Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo foremost among them.
But with Toronto mired in a slump and sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, the Canadian club is more focused on making a strong playoff push as the season enters the home stretch.
"This game [against Madrid] is exciting, it's good for the fans, it's good for the players, but at the end of the day this is a friendly and our main objective is to get into the playoffs," Toronto captain Jim Brennan told reporters Thursday.
After missing out on the post-season in their first two years in the league, management, players and coaching staff were very optimistic at the start of the 2009 MLS campaign that this would be the year when the club would finally reward its loyal fans with a playoff appearance.
Toronto coach Chris Cummins is as excited as his players are about the prospect of Friday's friendly against Real Madrid.
"It's going to be a great experience for the lads, to play against one of the best teams in the world, if not the best. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with it," Cummins said.
The first-year coach sees the game not only as learning opportunity for his players but also for himself.
"You want to play the best teams in the world. It's a learning curve for me, as well," Cummins explained. "To play against them is great and I'm looking forward to getting the video afterward and look to see how they play and see if there's anything I can pick up and use."
Toronto FC has fallen on hard times lately, though, having earned just one win in its last five regular-season contests.
The team also lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders (who compete one level below MLS in the United Soccer League's First Division) in a two-game playoff, failing to qualify for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Need to rebound
After being humbled by the Islanders, the team must quickly rebound and refocus, starting with next Saturday's crucial road game against D.C. United.
"We're very disappointed with the result against Puerto Rico," Toronto midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said. "It was a tournament that we definitely wanted to be part of, but you have to put that behind you and focus on the league right now and making the post-season."
"D.C. is a key game for us," Toronto coach Chris Cummins stated. "We're going to give it a massive push to get ourselves in the playoffs, because we believe we have a great chance of doing it.
Friday's game will be Toronto's fourth in 10 days, which means fatigue has set in. Cummins said he won't risk players who are the slightest bit injured by playing them against Madrid, stating it's important that the club remains healthy as it fights for a playoff berth.
Toronto taking it seriously
That said, even though Friday's encounter against los Galacticos is billed as an international friendly, Toronto is taking the game very seriously.
"A lot of the experienced guys have come up to me and told me they want to play, so nobody wants to miss this game. Not just because it's Real Madrid, but because they want to play," Cummins explained.
With a record nine European Cups/Champions League titles and 31 Spanish league championships to its credit, Real Madrid is one of the most famous and successful clubs in world soccer.
Some of the best players ever to play the game have worn Madrid's famous white jersey, including Alfredo di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.
The newest star is Ronaldo, having joined the club in June after los Blancos paid Manchester United $145 million, a world record transfer fee, for the services of the Portuguese star.
Brennan and his fellow defenders expect to have their hands full against the reigning FIFA world player of the year.
"He's unbelievable, he's one of the best players in the world. I was fortunate enough to [go up] against him against Portugal when I played for Canada and he's something special," Brennan said.
