Toronto FC looks to Moroccan centre-back to help communicate on defence

TORONTO – A former defender himself, Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney is a big believer in communication on the backline.

And in newly signed centre back Ahmed Kantari, Vanney has a man of many tongues. The 30-year-old Kantari speaks French, English, Spanish and Moroccan Arabic.

Kantari is the latest member of Toronto FC’s French Connection. Born in France, he plays internationally for Morocco thanks to his parents’ bloodlines.

The six-foot-one 172-pounder will eventually be paired with Damien Perquis, a French-born Polish international, in the heart of the Toronto defence.

“He’s a very good player, has a very good left foot,” said French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou. “And he also has a lot of experience in France.”

“(He) knows the game very well, reads the game well,” added Vanney, who played professionally in France. “He’s been a captain of many of his teams.”

Toronto (8-7-4) has been seeing plenty of goals at both ends recently. It ranks first in MLS in goals scored per game (1.63) but 19th in goals conceded (1.63).

Vanney clearly sees Kantari as a possible quarterback of his defence, ensuring all the pieces work in unison.

“When it comes down to in the game, you have to make quick decisions. And you need to switch players or you need to organize things ahead of time,” he said. “We need a voice. We need somebody to really take on that responsibility.

“Damien is off and on with it, in terms of his communication. Sometimes maybe it’s a language thing that it doesn’t come out quite quickly enough.”

There will be no language barrier with the axis of Kantari, Perquis and Cheyrou.

Vanney hopes to use Kantari sooner than later, taking him to Columbus on the weekend as an onlooker to help integrate him in the team.

“We’ll see how the week goes,” he said when asked if Kantari will start Saturday in New England.

Kantari arrives from Lens in France’s Ligue 1, helping the club win promotion for the 2104-15 season. He also played for Racing Strasbourg and Brest in the French second division.

Kantari is being counted on to help fill the void left by the retirement of former captain Steven Caldwell. Aside from Perquis, Toronto’s backline options are promising but young with 22-year-olds Nick Hagglund and Eriq Zavaleta and 24-year-old Clement Simonin (currently returning from a knee injury).

Toronto has conceded 11 goals in its last three road games, losing 4-0 in Los Angeles but showing grit in tying New York City FC 4-4 and the Columbus Crew 3-3.

Vanney says there has been a variety of defensive issues that have to be addressed.

“I think a lot of them can be dealt with if we just are communicating with each other a little better so that we’re more alert and we’re reading plays the same way … There’s so many of these plays that could be dealt with prior to the moment that we’re trying to deal with them, just with a little bit of proactive communication, and moving guys in the right place and dealing with situations ahead of time.

“We’ve become too reactive and I think if we can get on the front foot a little bit more defensively and work better as a unit, we can nullify a lot of these things.”

Kantari, who has brought his wife and five-month-old son with him, will wear No. 41. He has worn No. 4 and 24 in the past but they belong to Michael Bradley and Perquis.

He said after 10 years playing in France, he wanted to see the world.

“For me it’s a new experience and I want to see everything,” he said. “I want to enjoy this experience.”

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter