TFC newcomer Cheyrou has teammates’ respect

. (Jimmy Jeong/CP)

TORONTO _ Veteran French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou captained Toronto FC in the absence of Michael Bradley on the weekend, with goalie Joe Bendik also under consideration.
Bradley, who took over the captaincy this season from defender Steven Caldwell, was away with the U.S. national team. Caldwell was injured and unavailable for Sunday’s 2-1 loss in Real Salt Lake.
“I spoke to Joe. He was an option,” coach Greg Vanney said Tuesday of the interim captaincy. “The funny thing was when I spoke to Joe, he said he would have given it to Benoit as well. That’s the kind of respect he has among the group.
“Every day, he comes out, he’s a winner, he’s a fighter and the guys have a ton of respect for him.”
The 33-year-old Cheyrou spent seven seasons with Olympique Marseille before joining Toronto this season.

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