Go ahead, feel free to express it. You probably didn’t anticipate the Vancouver Whitecaps being on the brink of their best start in team history. Even they might not have expected it.

During the winter, they didn’t significantly upgrade their squad or make any major moves after the European transfer window closed in February. Additionally, their head coach has been serving a suspension, watching the first three games from the sidelines.

Then there’s their historical performance, which hasn’t been stellar. Over the past two seasons, they didn’t secure a win until April, with a combined record of 0-6-4 in the first five games of 2022 and 2023. Looking further back, their overall record in the first five games since 2019 is quite poor at 4-15-6.

Striker Brian White humorously acknowledged the team’s struggle to start strong in the past two years. However, with the current promising start, there’s excitement among the team, especially considering they’ve earned six points on the road so far.

As they head into a series of home games at B.C. Place, sitting at 2-0-1, the Whitecaps find themselves in second place in the conference, trailing only Minnesota. While it’s a small sample size, it’s their best three-game start in over a decade.

Assistant coach Mike D’Agostino emphasized the importance of staying grounded and focused on each game, rather than getting carried away by the early success. He warned against the danger of turning confidence into arrogance.

Reflecting on past seasons, none of the current players or coaches have experienced a successful start since they joined the team in 2019 or later. This adds a layer of motivation to maintain their current momentum.

Damir Kreilach, who previously scored against the Whitecaps for Real Salt Lake, is now on the Vancouver team. He acknowledges the emotional aspect of facing his former team but remains focused on securing a victory for his current squad.

“It’s all part of the natural progression,” he remarked. “Playing football is what I love most, and my time there was incredible. I made lifelong friends. Now, it’s about turning a new page in my life and career.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s bigger than just soccer. After the game, I’ll catch up with Marcelo Silva, who’s like a brother to me. He’s bringing his family to visit, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all. But during those 90 minutes on the field, there are no friendships.”

However, Silva has a different perspective: “He’s become a friend these days, but when we’re competing, we’re both focused on winning. We understand that on the field, it’s all about giving our best to our respective teams. He’s wearing a different jersey now, but his desire to win remains the same.

“My relationship with him extends beyond football. We spent a lot of time together outside of training, with our families joining in for trips and dinners. It’s hard to pick just one memory; there are too many. From the moment we met until now, I’ll always cherish those moments.”