Learn from your mistakes, or you are doomed to repeat them.
A month ago, Toronto found itself in nearly the exact same position it finds itself today. They had an MLS game on the weekend, an important Champions League game three days later and a good chunk of travel in between. And, as they have all season, they played each game as though they were ignorant of the next.
Toronto strolled into Columbus, played their starters, picked up some injuries, won a meaningless cup and then made the trek down to Ol' Mexico way. Of course, on tired legs, tonnes of travel and short those key players, they got pasted by Pumas, in one of their worst performances of the year. The loss didn't put a nail in their Champions League coffin but, given this was Mexico, they did wake up naked in the desert with a few questions to be asked.
Namely, why had Toronto gone balls to the wall to win a cup that looks more like a waste bin than something clubs aspire to?
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Especially, if you consider, they had to know a resurgent Pumas, in Mexico no less, were not going to be an easy test and that a result there, even a point, would have put them in good shape for the rest of the competition.
Perhaps, Toronto was assuming they couldn't get a point in Mexico, even with their best 11. Perhaps, they have more belief in their depth at this point than most. Perhaps, even, they are just content to ride out this season, knowing that any real success isn't likely to come until next.
Of the three, I'd wager the last has the least validity. But it's a bet I'm only content to lay after I see what they do in Chivas this weekend.
First, lets dispel any myth that they have a hope in hell of making the MLS playoffs. As it stands presently, Toronto is seven points back of the last playoff spot, held by Portland. Toronto has five teams to climb over just to reach Portland, four games in which to do it and most of the teams they need to climb over have a game in hand on them. So, even if Toronto were to win out by beating some admittedly pathetic teams - three wins between the four of them over a combined 20 game span - they would still be counting on a Portland squad that hasn't lost in five and is looking as strong as any team heading into the playoff stretch.
And, if you're still in the 'ya, but' camp, consider that two of Toronto's four remaining games are on the road - where they have but a single, albeit sparkling, win all season.
So, that brings us back to this weekend. Toronto will once again travel to Mexico, some of you still know of it as California, to take on Chivas in a game that means nothing. They'll then travel back to Toronto to face arguably, when they play their starters, one of the best teams in the CONCACAF region for a game that still means very much. TFC needs at least a point to stay alive. If they lose and Dallas wins (as they should) against Tauro, Toronto is out and we can all prepare for one of the quietest months BMO Field has ever seen.
A point, a scrappy little point, and they're alive.
But, make no mistake they can not do both. In fact, there is no point in trying to do both. And if Aron Winter and company go ahead and play their best 11 in Chivas - ignoring the obvious realities of travel, squad health and quality of opponent - then there will be serious questions to be asked about what their priorities were this season. And more importantly, as a manager, if he is capable of learning from his own mistakes.