Vancouver Whitecaps confident after 'miracle' qualification to MLS playoffs

Vancouver Whitecaps interim head coach Vanni Sartini did not mince words after his team clinched a playoff spot following a 1-1 tie with Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders.

“I’m so honored and proud to be your coach,” Sartini told his team postgame. "Portland, Salt Lake, they can send us to the moon! F—k it, we’re in the F—ing playoffs!"

That enthusiasm and optimism from the head coach matches the energy from players and a packed and raucous home crowd at BC Place, as the team clinched its first playoff berth in four years on Sunday night. 

After opening the season with just two wins in their first twelve games, the Whitecaps are MLS playoff bound.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau realizes just how special this team is as the playoffs approach.

“This team will fight for each other. Every single player has everybody’s back,” Crépeau said.

“Obviously, starting with that mentality and you’re adding the tactics and you’re adding the fact that if everybody’s on task on gameday, we are a difficult team to beat.”

Vancouver’s first round playoff opponent will be Sporting Kansas City on the road, a team they split the regular season series with. Kansas City missed out on an opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a loss to Real Salt Lake, but even as the No. 3 seed, are one of the top teams in the league.

The Whitecaps knew what they faced this weekend with a playoff spot on the line, and are confident that they can prepare for and execute against Kansas City just like they did Seattle.

“We believe,” Crépeau said. “When we came back from Salt Lake, we knew that we were on the clock, that we needed to get results, and we got them. So, now it’s off to KC, we’ve gotta prepare for two weeks.”

When a member of the club communication’s staff told journalists on a postgame Zoom call that the team’s postseason opponent would be Sporting Kansas City, Sartini was quick to interject with confidence.

“No, we’ll beat Sporting Kansas City,” Sartini said.