When Jesper Sorensen looks at the Vancouver Whitecaps, he sees a strong foundation 91裸聊视频� one he believes he can build on now that he91裸聊视频檚 been named head coach.
91裸聊视频淚 think that we might be able to adjust a little bit,91裸聊视频� he said in an introductory press conference Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not here to make a revolution 91裸聊视频� because I can see that they91裸聊视频檝e done a great job so far 91裸聊视频� but to make an evolution to try and make some adjustments so we can get better from a very good starting point.91裸聊视频�
Sorensen, 51, comes to Vancouver from Brondby IF in the Danish Superliga where he spent two seasons as head coach following two and a half as an assistant.
He also spent more than a year as head coach of Denmark91裸聊视频檚 under-21 national squad, and played more than 300 matches as a midfielder in Denmark91裸聊视频檚 top league.
Sorensen lived in Toronto a few years ago while his wife, Pernille, an oncologist, worked on research there. He said the couple and their three sons loved their time in Canada, even making a short visit to Vancouver.
The hire answers one major question for a Whitecaps side that weathered a tumultuous off-season.
In mid-November, exuberant Italian Vanni Sartini was been fired as head coach. A month later, news emerged that ownership was putting the club up for sale.
Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster did not provide an update on the sale process Tuesday, saying only that it would take time.
Sorensen said he isn91裸聊视频檛 concerned about the pending business.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 here to coach the team, and I91裸聊视频檓 pretty confident that there91裸聊视频檚 a team to coach,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o that91裸聊视频檚 what was important for me.91裸聊视频�
Sorensen takes over a 91裸聊视频楥aps team that finished the 2024 season with a mediocre 13-13-8 regular-season record.
The campaign included the club winning a third-straight Canadian Championship title, but the team limped through the end of the MLS season and was ousted from the playoffs in the first round by Los Angeles FC.
91裸聊视频淚 think we have said several times that we have been happy with most of our progress and development over the last years,91裸聊视频� Schuster said.
91裸聊视频淏ut that we felt that we lost a little bit the speed, we lost a little bit the energy at the end of last season.91裸聊视频�
The Whitecaps interviewed a number of candidates while searching for the sixth full-time head coach in club history, Schuster said. Part of what set Sorensen apart was his proven record of taking over teams and quickly having a positive impact as a coach.
During his time leading Brondby, the team went from 10th in the league to finishing the 2023-24 season in second place with the second-least goals conceded, the second-best goal differential and the third-most goals scored in the league.
Under Sartini, the 91裸聊视频楥aps often allowed their opponents to control possession and made use of speed and captain Ryan Gauld91裸聊视频檚 playmaking abilities to create offensive opportunities.
Sorensen said he wants his team to be known as a tactically strong group that plays close together and has more control of the ball.
91裸聊视频淚n this league, there91裸聊视频檚 a guy called (Inter Miami superstar Lionel) Messi,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou cannot control him when he has the ball, but you can try to affect him to play. But if you have the ball, you can control it, and then you can control better the outcome of what91裸聊视频檚 going to happen.91裸聊视频�
Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 goal differential last season was a middling +3 in MLS play, but the squad boasts some high-quality offence in Gauld and striker Brian White.
White led the team with 15 goals last year and Gauld contributed 10 goals and 15 assists. The Scottish attacking midfielder was tied for third most helpers in the league.
91裸聊视频淔rom what I91裸聊视频檝e seen from the players in the games I watched 91裸聊视频� and I don91裸聊视频檛 know them that well yet 91裸聊视频� but they have the qualities to do it. I saw a game where they scored five against Portland. Let91裸聊视频檚 see if we can try to copy that,91裸聊视频� Sorensen said.
91裸聊视频淔ootball is also about entertainment 91裸聊视频� And the best way to entertain somebody in soccer and football is scoring goals, right?91裸聊视频�
Time for Sorensen to make his mark ahead of the MLS season is fleeting.
Just hours after Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 introductory press conference, the Whitecaps were set to fly to Spain where they91裸聊视频檒l spend more than three weeks training.
Players and staff will return to Vancouver in mid-February ahead of the club91裸聊视频檚 first game on Feb. 20 when the team visits Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa to kick off a two-legged CONCACAF Champions League matchup.
Vancouver will play its first MLS game of the year on Feb. 23 when it visits the Timbers before hosting Saprissa on Feb. 27. The 91裸聊视频楥aps will hold their home opener when the L.A. Galaxy visit on March 2.
Adjusting to a new coach will take some time, Sorensen said, but he expects his players will start picking up some of the new tactics he91裸聊视频檒l introduce before they leave Spain.
91裸聊视频淭hings don91裸聊视频檛 happen overnight. All the habits we have put in the back of our brains, and they are there for a long time, and you have to really work them out if you need to do something different,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲e are not perfect all the time, and we can live with some mistakes. But we work with the right intentions all the time, and then we go and make progress.91裸聊视频�
