Caps Comeback: Gressel Chirps Back At Shaan Hundal

Just a few days after Vancouver FC forward Shaan Hundal took a dig at the Whitecaps following his history-making goal in Canadian Premier League action, Vancouver Whitecaps full-back Julian Gressel has fired back.

When asked about Hundal’s earlier ‘Caps chirp, Gressel dismissed the comment by saying he ‘barely looks at whatever league [Hundal] is playing in’.

Quipped a CPL fan in response: “Tell Julian that’s fairly obvious about the whole organization, since it took them until their fourth try to win a game against a CPL team.”

That is, of course, in reference to the club’s two-legged winless defeat against Cavalry in 2019, followed by a 4-3 loss against Pacific in 2021 that saw Marc Dos Santos sacked. In 2022, the Whitecaps would finally earn a win against CPL opposition, defeating both Valour and York United in last year’s Canadian Championship run.

While the Whitecaps don’t have a positive record against Canadian Premier League opposition, the eighth-placed western conference side will still enter this year’s quarter-final knockout cup match as favourites against York United, which opened its season with two straight league losses.

Hundal’s inflammatory comment which prompted Gressel’s clap-back came after the 23-year-old scored Vancouver FC’s first-ever goal in a 2-1 win over York United. The moment wasn’t prompted by the media, with the former Inter Miami II forward taking it upon himself to challenge his club’s MLS-based neighbour:

“It’s nice to have a team in Vancouver that has a brand. I know the Whitecaps are there, I don’t think they’re winning a lot of games. It’s nice to be a new team that got a win this early in this season. I hope we can show all of Vancouver what we can do and what the Whitecaps can’t,” said Hundal.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have two wins after eight matches, while Vancouver FC recorded its first win in league match number two for the expansion side. Suffice to say, there’ll be some receipt checking when Hundal’s club finds themselves eight matches deep.

While the Whitecaps have endured a tough start this year, Julian Gressel has proven to be a remarkable addition to the team: he’s bagged five assists and one goal for the team this season, with the 29-year-old also earning his first two caps for USA whilst based in British Columbia. It’s unclear of he’ll re-sign with the team, with the full-back saying he believes his agent and VWFC are currently in discussions.

The Whitecaps have loaned players to Canadian Premier League clubs in the past, with former FC Edmonton striker Easton Ongaro having once shared the pitch with Gressel in a 5-2 loss against the LA Galaxy. In MLS Next Pro ranks, both Lowell Wright and Antoine Coupland now suit up for the Whitecaps 2 after developing in the CPL.

Header Image Photo Credit: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Gressel Quote Credit: Har Journalist