THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — With the clock ticking down towards the kickoff of their inaugural Major League Soccer season, the Vancouver Whitecaps continued to build their defence Friday.
The club signed versatile Canadian defender Alain Rochat, a veteran of the Swiss league, but what coach Teitur Thordarson wants to see next is for the Whitecaps to add some strikers.
"The biggest problem is we don’t have enough strikers," Thordarson said during a news conference at the Whitecaps’ downtown office. "We are working on that.
"Hopefully within a few weeks we will have that in place."
Rochat will be one of the players taking the pitch at Empire Field on Monday when the Whitecaps officially open training camp. The 27-year-old native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., has been playing with FC Zurich of the Swiss Super League.
Capable of slotting in at both left fullback and centre back, Rochat is looking forward to the challenge of a new league.
"I want to discover another mentality," he said. "I heard it’s a physical game (in MLS).
"In Europe I was known as a quiet player. I would like to show I can also be physical."
Thordarson likes Rochat’s size at six-foot and 170 pounds, and his offensive potential.
"I think we have a good quality player and a player with lots of experience in the top level in Europe," said Thordarson.
"He is big and strong. His physical presence is important. He likes to come forward, so we will see how much he can attack. First of all, he is a good defender."
The Whitecaps initially acquired Rochat last season while Vancouver still played in the United States Soccer Federation Division 2. The club then loaned him back to Zurich, where he started 14 games.
"My style is it be quiet on the ball, look to help the offence from behind," said Rochat. "If I can chose, I have played more on the left side. I think that is my position where I can bring my offensive qualities."
Rochat moved from Canada to Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, when he was two but remains a Montreal Canadiens fan.
During his time with FC Zurich, he made 154 appearances, scoring nine goals and adding 10 assists. Rochat helped Zurich win Swiss Super League championships in 2006-07 and 2008-09. In the 2009-10 season he was part of the team that reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, facing Real Madrid, AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille in Group C.
The Whitecaps defence already has players like U.S. international Jay DeMerit, the club’s first MLS signing, plus league veterans Jonathan Leather and Blake Wagner.
Up front, Vancouver looked to the future by selecting Omar Salgado, a 17-year-old forward from El Paso, Texas, with the first pick in the recent SuperDraft of college-aged players.
There have also been stories out of Europe linking the Whitecaps with several big-name players.
One suggested the Whitecaps are interested in Owen Hargreaves, the Calgary-born midfielder, who plays for Manchester United. Hargreaves has been slowed by knee problems since moving to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich in 2007.
A hobbled Hargreaves would be a costly signing. He might sell tickets but it’s questionable if he could help the Whitecaps on the pitch.
The whole idea brought a smile from Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi.
"For obvious reasons Owen Hargreaves would be a wonderful signing," said Lenarduzzi. "We have not had any discussions with him.
"That is something that is pure speculation at this point."
Meanwhile, Derby Country captain Robbie Savage has told English newspapers he’s prepared to join the Whitecaps. Vancouver has also been linked with Robbie Keane, who wants to move from his current English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Lenarduzzi said Vancouver has talked to Savage, but nothing more.
"We’ve kind of cast out a wide net and will look at different options," he said. "We are still at that stage with Robbie Savage."
The same olds true for Keane.
"Spurs are looking to move him and he’s looking to move himself," Lenarduzzi said. "In terms of the opportunity here in Vancouver, there is nothing that has been further discussed."
After months of looking at names on paper, Thordarson is excited about finally working with players on the field. He wants to build an exciting team that scores goals.
"I’ve always been very attacking minded," he said. "I would like to see my team as an attacking force.
"We’re still in a phase where we are trying to add some attacking players to the roster. We will see if we are able to bring in some quality strikers before the league starts."
The Whitecaps also announced they will participate in a series of exhibition games against Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC. The three-day Cascadia Summit will begin March 4 in Tukwila, Wash.
The Whitecaps will play their first MLS game against Toronto FC on March 19.