John Herdman's Statements After the Victory in the Canadian Derby | CF Montreal 0-1 Toronto FC

In an extremely exciting match, Toronto FC managed to secure a victory against CF Montreal on July 20. It was a highly contested game marked by numerous fouls, but the team led by John Herdman put on a great performance.

This victory was particularly significant, as the team was coming off a tough 3-1 defeat against Inter Miami, which had made it increasingly difficult to fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Herdman is Happy with the Team

John Herdman stated that the team showed great spirit and that the result is crucial at this point in the season. The team managed the game better towards the end. The standout player was Richie Laryea, who scored his first goal since joining the club, giving The Reds the advantage and securing three points in a derby that is always special.

"I thought there was maturity in that performance. It was about doing whatever it took to get the result. Overall, it was a real team performance. There isn't a single man I can highlight who was brilliant tonight. That's the tightest I've seen this group. They kept clarity until the end."

- John Herdman

READ MORE: Goal Contributions of Toronto FC So Far in the 2024 Season

This victory strengthens a positive streak for Toronto FC against their biggest rival, CF Montreal. With a 5-1 victory on May 18 and the recent 1-0 win, Toronto FC has won both matches of the season against Montreal, which has been crucial for boosting morale during a difficult period in the MLS.

"Obviously, playing away against rivals is always tough, so I thought we played a good match. When we were on the ropes at times, we handled it very well. It was a positive performance for us as a team, very solid... A very professional performance on both sides of the ball, I'd say."

- John Herdman

Now the team has an important break in the MLS, which, more than a vacation, will be a crucial opportunity to work intensely in training and give the players a physical rest. The accumulation of matches, injuries, and absences have been significant challenges for the team, but with the arrival of the Leagues Cup, there will be a slight reduction in MLS and Canadian Championship competitiveness.

"The beauty is we have a break. We’re not going on vacation, but we’ve had consecutive games, and we’re excited. We need a physical break, we need a reset. We were lucky tonight not to pick up injuries, there were about four players right on the cusp of that..."

- John Herdman

This pause will allow the team to prepare for the most important stretch of the season. Toronto FC will look to finish the MLS campaign strongly and overturn the adverse result in the Canadian Championship semifinals against Forge FC to reach the final. Additionally, they will face tough opponents in the Leagues Cup, such as Pachuca from Mexico and New York Red Bull, where the team is expected to show their best performance.