THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — Eric Hassli grinned and thrust an elbow at an imaginary defender.
Sometimes a gesture can speak volumes when you are trying to get through an interview with a limited command of English.
"There are a lot of demands physically," the burly French striker said Wednesday through an interpreter when asked about his first MLS game as a Vancouver Whitecap.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound Hassli was a physical force Saturday for the expansion team, scoring the first and last goals in a 4-2 MLS debut victory over Toronto FC.
He bulled his way into the penalty area traffic to blast a Davide Chiumiento cross behind Toronto keeper Stefan Frei with his left foot and tapped home a Wes Knight pass with his right.
It’s just one game but Hassli, signed only two weeks ago as the club’s designated player whose salary can exceed the maximum cap charge of $335,000, says he’s feeling right at home.
"The league is of very good quality," said Hassli, who was signed out of FC Zurich of the Swiss Super League. "The referees let people play.
"It feels like I’ve been here for 10 years. Everybody’s been great. I’m getting used to being here. The mountains are like Switzerland but there’s no ocean (there)."
Scoring was a problem last season, even when the Whitecaps played in a second-tier league.
Fans wondered whether they would be watching an impotent offence often associated with expansion teams when the ‘Caps moved up to MLS.
Hassli, who turns 30 in May, was brought in to address that.
President Bob Lenarduzzi said the club could have signed marquee names like Thierry Henry of the New York Red Bulls and David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Other options were a young player with plenty of upside or a good experienced technical player. Hassli is the latter.
"He’s a big boy and in (MLS) there’s maybe two others who can play like him," Chiumiento said before the club left for Philadelphia and Saturday’s game against the Union.
"But he’s the only one who is big and has the technical skills. He has very good finishing qualities.
"I like to play with him because we like to (keep the ball) on the ground and make a lot of passes off each other."
Coach Teitur Thordarson said Hassli demonstrated the importance of size up front.
"MLS is a physical league and we wanted to go for a big physical person because we have a lot of young players, smaller players who didn’t have what he presents," Thordarson said.
But Hassli brings more than that, the Icelandic coach said.
"He is quite central in our buildup of play from behind. He keeps the ball well and brings the ball in and he plays people through so he’s been a huge player for us since he came."
Hassli said he is becoming comfortable with Thordarson’s style of play and building chemistry with his teammates.
"We are understanding each other better and better," said Hassli who joked that he’d be speaking in English within two months.
Hassli’s experience includes helping FC Zurich to the Champions League group stage in 2009-10 and finishing third in Super League scoring the previous season with 17 goals.
"In the dressing room, he’s going to be a strong character," said midfielder Terry Dunfield, who’s playing with his home town side after 14 years in England that included a stint with Manchester City.
"Off the field he’s been good, his English is getting better and it’s good to have experienced pros in the changing room."
Chiumiento said Hassli keeps his game simple and that will help him connect with his teammates.
"He understands the system very well because he has experience and knows how to move on the field," Chiumiento said. "For him, no problem."
NOTES: Midfielder Russell Thiebert had his first full practice Wednesday after a leg injury forced him out of Saturday’s game in the 69th minute … Chiumiento, who suffered a hamstring injury in that game, rode the stationary bike … Thordarson would not tip his hand on who will replace central defenders Jay DeMerit and Michael Boxall … DeMerit (U.S.) and Boxall (New Zealand) will be playing friendlies with their national teams.