Vanni Sartini on Whitecaps' incredible 2025: 'It felt like you prepare the party, then they didn't let you in'

Newly-named Halifax Wanderers FC head coach Vanni Sartini joined us on OneSoccer Direct to talk about his Canadian Premier League ambitions, his decision to stay and manage in Canada, and his reflections on the Vancouver Whitecaps' incredible 2025 domestic and continental season.

And on the latter point, Sartini admitted to a mix of emotions when watching his former team make the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup final, then win a fourth-straight TELUS Canadian Championship, before battling through the MLS playoffs before losing to Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final.

"First of all, it's congratulation to the people that were this season because they have a fantastic season," Sartini told OneSoccer. "I was proud of some of the players that I contributed to bring there to develop and to improve that they reach a level that I know that we're going because the trajectory was there.

"At the same time... I gotta be honest with you, it was a little bit painful too.

"You know, it's this big party and you did everything to prepare the party, to drive the guys to the party, and then? They didn't let you in the party.

"It was a a little bit of... I don't know, I was a little bit envious, to be honest, to see them in the MLS Cup Final, and I wasn't there with them.

"But the pride and the being happy for them was a bigger sentiment for sure."