November 8, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Toronto FC II News Release
Young and missing key pieces upon which the success of the previous season was built, Toronto FC II dug themselves a hole at the beginning of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
The side lost their first three matches – away to FC Cincinnati 2 and Chicago Fire II, then at home against NYCFC II – by a combined score of 8-2. Down 2-0 after 14 minutes away to Philadelphia Union II in their next game, the side scored three straight, only to concede an equalizer in the 82nd minute and lose in the penalty shootout.
A week later, having taken a 2-1 lead away to Orlando City B, TFC II conceded twice in the final seven minutes to once again miss out on victory.
A run like that can weigh on a side, but Toronto persevered.
One of the recurring features in 2022 was the ability to take a punch and respond. TFC II showed that characteristic once more this past season.
It is something that begins with Gianni Cimini and his coaching staff.
“Gianni has always talked about our character as a team, that having to be the most important part, especially when times are low,” said Lazar Stefanovic. “Showing character, even when you might not really perform you have to do it with a positive mindset, a positive attitude, understanding that it’s never over until it’s over.”
“That’s when we started to gain results, where we got together and realized the only way we’re going to find a way out of this was to be together,” he continued. “From a character standpoint, guys, as the season went on, started to show their true character. That helped us.”
Toronto trains in those scenarios, preparing players to have a response when the game goes against them.
“Building guys to understand that you never lose, you’re always learning,” explained Jordan Faria. “Especially in a team where we have young players, we want to get results and when the results don’t come, it’s how can we learn from the situation and move on and keep working hard.”
“The coaches have been so supportive. They put in the hours, they put in so much work to get us prepared for the matches. When it comes down to football, anything can happen, so it’s a matter of what happens on the field, happens on the field, but how are we going to move on and react as a team and stay together,” he continued. “Gianni would always say to us, ‘Heads up, we stay together, we keep pushing, we keep fighting.'”
“And that’s what we did,” Faria underlined. “Every single game we went…
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