On Tuesday, Forge FC face perhaps their biggest challenge yet in the TELUS Canadian Championship.
They head to BC Place to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, continental finalists this year, back-to-back-to-back Canadian Championship winners and one of the top teams in MLS this year for the second leg of their semi-final.
The series is all tied up on aggregate, 2-2, and with no away goals rule in this year's competition, it is all to play for in the second leg.
Ahead of Tuesday's kick-off, at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET on OneSoccer and TSN, here is what coaches and players from both clubs had to say ahead of the match
Bobby Smyrniotis, Head Coach, Forge FC
On playing against Vancouver after they beat top-of-the-table Philadelphia Union 7-0
"You're not going to catch a team like Vancouver off guard. I think they're a team that's well prepared. It shows from how their season has gone, and I think they'll be well prepared for us. It's not something new. We faced each other; it was a month ago, and in Hamilton, so we know each other better, both teams.
"You know everyone will be prepared. It doesn't matter what happened in the game before, what your momentum is like, because those are all scripts that can be rewritten after 90 minutes. And then you really know how a team was feeling and not feeling. But the one thing I know is you'll have two teams that are well prepared for this, and obviously want to punch their ticket into the final."
On how pleased he has been with his team to this point, and the opportunity they now have in front of them in potentially reaching a final
"As Forge, we don't talk about a lot of things, about the records; we focus on what we have in front of us, but this is obviously a trophy that we don't have and we'd like to have, and I can guarantee it's going to happen at some point. I can't guarantee the year, and if these grey hairs on my beard will be around, but it's going to occur some way.
"People asked me years ago, is it possible for Canadian Premier League teams to play in finals? Of course, it's going to happen, it's only normal, but we've been playing some excellent football, and it's a collective that's been great to see, because we've got some fantastic players on the pitch, but it's their dedication to the collective part of the game. And I think that's what will be our strong suit, also tomorrow evening, and that we need to be very good in that, from the 11 that step on the field to the five or whatever the subs will be that come in and play all their part in the game."
On being so close to winning this competition before
"You have the fire that fuels you, that's the important thing. That's where you take the opponent out of the picture, and you say to yourself that you only get a few moments like this, and you don't know if it comes every year. We've been blessed. We've been in this round many times in this competition, but these are the games with no regrets. That's the most important thing.
"It's that if you're going to step on the field, if you're going to be the coaching team, it's that you've put everything you've got into this one. Because without a positive result tomorrow there isn't another one. It's off to next season in this competition, and that's what it comes down to in these games."
On how preparation changes with the series tied on aggregate
"Sometimes there's a bit more of a free mentality in the game, because you don't have that 'I've got to chase, I've got to be more aggressive', or something you go into a game when you're up on aggregate, and you'll tell the guy to be aggressive but they're like, 'we got a goal here on the opponent'.
"And we've seen each side of that through competitions like this one, in Concacaf and different places. Most important is playing the game because the other stuff can cloud your mentality on some of the tactical things that we're looking at. So I don't want to say you play with a full, free mind, but you're playing the game and the result that's there in front of you for 90 minutes."
Thomas Müller, Vancouver Whitecaps
On getting to play in the Canadian Championship for the first time
"For me, it's a very important game because it's our shortest way to a cup, to win a trophy. We are taking it very seriously, and so I do. For me, I'm looking forward to it, to play my first really decisive game for the Caps."
Kyle Bekker, Midfielder, Forge FC
On the opportunity in front of them to reach, and host, a final
"Obviously, it's a fantastic opportunity. These are the games you want to be playing in. We've said it time and time again. It's always exciting when you have a chance to play for a final playing in a game like this, we know that everything's going to be a little heightened, and there's no question the opponent is a good one, and I guess they're in a decent run of form right now, so should be fun."
On the Whitecaps having a few more weapons, including Thomas Müller, at their disposal since the last meeting
"We know they've added a few pieces, and getting some guys healthy again definitely is positive for them, but it doesn't change too much. Games like this, they come down to the details. So, regardless of the 11 that they put out, we know we have to be at our best from that first whistle.
"Games like these, you have to be locked in the entire game. It comes down to those fine little margins, and we have to make sure that we go through our preparations and everyone's locked in from the first second."
On how important their defensive ability is going to be in this game against a Whitecaps team that love to hold the ball, especially at home
"I think our biggest strength has been our collective and I don't think there's going to be any bigger game than the one tomorrow, where we're going to need every single one, whether it's the 11 that started, the guys who come off the bench, everyone has to be bought in and and we know that we have quality in our side.
"We have guys who've played in big games, who scored in big games, who had massive performances, and we're capable of doing that, but it's obviously not going to be any easy feat. We know it's easier said than done, everyone's just got to be locked in. As I said, I sound like a little bit of a broken record, but it's going to take everyone."
On having a coach like Bobby Smyrniotis in his corner in big games like this
"We have a coaching staff that I think we're very lucky to have. The preparation is bar none; there is no stone that's left unturned. So we go into every single game with as much information as a player needs, and then it's a matter of what we're willing to do with it. We know that we have a staff that's worked and worked tirelessly in preparation for the matches to give us all the information we need, and it's just a matter of us being locked in, taking that information, soaking it all in, and going out and executing it.
"But, [Bobby]'s demanding. He's professional. He's tireless in his work ethic, and he instills a ton of belief in this group, and I think you've seen that over the years in how he's got certain performances out of certain players, and the way in which we've done it, and the stuff that we've achieved as a collective, it's obviously it's played a massive role In that."
Jesper Sørensen, Head Coach, Vancouver Whitecaps
On what he's expecting from the second leg
"It’s cup football, there are always surprises in games, but we have to make sure that doesn’t happen in our game. We’re up against a team that’s used to winning and not used to losing. They're having a really good season so far, so they have a lot of confidence coming in.
"We should be the better team and be able to show that over the course of the game, but it’s always going to be difficult, and we know that. Just coming out of a very high after a very good performance, we just have to make sure we do everything to stay on that high.It's what you want as a football player that gives you confidence. It's going to be difficult but I hope that we can play well."
