Interim coach Terry Dunfield looking for TFC breakthrough: ‘We need to start winning’
Terry Dunfield fired a ball from 25 yards out that clipped the crossbar of an empty aim.
Toronto FC’s interim head coach jokingly celebrated the pre-training ability show earlier than becoming a member of his gamers warming up on an adjoining follow area.
That transient second of pleasure — arm raised, smile on his face — is one the previous Canadian worldwide is determined to copy for actual underneath the brilliant lights.
“One thing I’ve learned through these last 10 days is I want to be a head coach,” Dunfield mentioned Friday. “I’m clear what I want to do now.”
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His audition in TFC’s massive chair hasn’t gone in line with plan, however Dunfield will get a minimum of two extra photographs to attempt to get issues transferring in the suitable route.
Handed the keys to the costly and woefully underperforming Major League Soccer membership after Bob Bradley’s dismissal late final month, the Vancouver native watched his group concede a late winner in a 1-0 residence loss to Real Salt Lake on Canada Day earlier than Tuesday’s 4-0 highway drubbing by the hands of Orlando City SC.
A candidate for the full-time teaching job Toronto hopes to fill quickly, Dunfield was promised a minimal of 4 matches as a part of his audition.
Now on the halfway level, he is aware of issues have to enhance.
“We need to start winning,” Dunfield mentioned as TFC ready to host St. Louis City SC on Saturday. “It’s a superb factor that the membership is being held accountable by our followers, by our media, our former gamers.
“This is the culture we need.”
The job, nonetheless, stays daunting.
Toronto (3-9-10) has been outscored 5-0 underneath Dunfield, 10-1 over its final 4 outings, and has one victory in 13 video games (1-8-4) throughout all competitions courting again to April.
“The basics in terms of how we want to play,” midfielder Alonso Coello mentioned when requested about what has stood out throughout Dunfield’s quick tenure. “Trying to create an setting of competitors contained in the locker room … keep united, keep collectively.
“And try and get this thing going.”
Dunfield, who was main Toronto’s under-17 academy group when he bought the decision from membership president Bill Manning after Bradley was fired June 26, mentioned he’s been analyzing the group in hopes of discovering the suitable system.
“We have some real technical players, some players that are hungry to be challenged tactically,” mentioned the 41-year-old. “Laying some foundations was essential, scaffolding from there, and making an attempt to carry them just a little little bit of readability.
“Hopefully each game we’ll continue to see some growth.”
Dunfield’s job is much more of a problem when taking a look at his restricted squad choices.
A protracted harm checklist is headlined by captain Michael Bradley, defender Matt Hedges and midfielder Victor Vazquez, whereas midfielder Jonathan Osorio and goalkeeper Sean Johnson are away on worldwide obligation.
Toronto, which has the best wage invoice in MLS, may also be with out ahead Federico Bernardeschi for the subsequent two matches due to suspension after he was despatched off in opposition to Orlando. Fellow Italian star and designated participant Lorenzo Insigne missed coaching Friday and is listed as questionable with a lower-body harm.
“It would be easy to go there,” Dunfield mentioned when requested about roster limitations. “But one in every of my learnings, simply from the group, was to stay optimistic and never give ourselves an excuse.
“We have tons of quality.”
St. Louis, in the meantime, has proven its kind on the pitch in a banner enlargement season, sitting atop the Western Conference with an 11-7-2 file.
The membership tabbed Bundesliga veterans forward of its inaugural marketing campaign, together with midfielder Eduard Lowen and goalkeeper Roman Burki, whereas former Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tim Parker anchors the backline.
“We’re going to have to dominate the chaos,” Dunfield mentioned of Saturday’s bodily opponent. “It’ll be just a little bit extra of a avenue combat. It’ll be underneath the lights of BMO Field.
“It’s just the game we need.”
Despite registering a solitary victory during the last 70 days, Coello mentioned perception stays excessive that Toronto, which is seven factors out of a playoff spot, can flip its MLS marketing campaign round with 12 video games left within the common season.
“Things can change very, very quickly,” mentioned the Spaniard. “We have good gamers, we’ve got a superb group, we’ve got a superb roster.
“It’s up to us.”
And as much as Dunfield to tie all of it collectively within the subsequent section of a profession that included 17 years on pitches throughout Europe and North America as a participant, the final seven with TFC’s academy, and a while spent as a media pundit.
“Everything that’s come my way, I’ve been ready for,” he mentioned. “Our secret sauce is that this unbelievable group behind me. It’s not ‘The Bob Bradley Way’ or ‘The (former coach) Chris Armas Way.’
“It’s now ‘The Toronto FC Way.’”
With Dunfield, for the second and presumably longer, main from the entrance.
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