TORONTO — Interim head coach Terry Dunfield turned to a different kind of back-field player, hoping to turn around the miserable season for his Toronto FC.
Before his club hit the pitch Thursday for its final training session in preparation for TFC's next outing against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday, Dunfield invited Toronto Argonauts legend Michael (Pinball) Clemons to address the Major League Soccer team.
"Pinball has done it all as a player, as a coach and as (the Argos) president now," Dunfield said. "One of his superpowers, besides being an amazing person, is bringing a group together."
TFC has been outscored 6-0 in three losses under Dunfield since he took over for the fired Bob Bradley last month and 11-1 in the struggling team's last five matches. TFC has gone 0-5-3 in its last eight matches and 1-9-4 in its previous 14 outings in all competitions.
The 41-year-old Dunfield described his team's 1-0 defeat to St. Louis at home last Saturday as a "gut punch."
Part of the address from Clemons, a Canadian Football League Hall of Famer, asked the team to show the resiliency needed to turn the season around. Clemons made each player sign a soccer ball to symbolize playing for one another.
"(Clemons said) 'If you believe we can pull this off, sign the ball," Dunfield said. "So everyone signed the ball, and that ball will travel with us now."
With 11 regular-season games remaining, TFC (3-10-10) is 10 points behind Chicago (7-7-8), which occupies the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Fire have been piping hot these days, with four wins in their last five games, including a 1-0 win against CF Montreal on Wednesday.
Dunfield's lineup could look differently in Chicago because Canadian Jonathan Osorio and American goalie Sean Johnson have returned from their Gold Cup international duty.
Injured forward Lorenzo Insigne and defenders Sigurd Rosted and Matt Hedges also participated in Thursday's training session and appeared ready.
Also joining TFC for his first workout with his new team was Argentine midfielder Franco Ibarra, who was loaned to Toronto by Atlanta earlier this week.
The 22-year-old newcomer impressed his new boss.
"He gave the players a lift," Dunfield said. "What a player we have here."
Ibarra initially didn't endear himself to his new teammates and TFC supporters with comments he made after the transfer, citing he wanted to be sent to a "better team."
He apologized to his new teammates on Thursday.
"I was going through a moment in my life when I was confused," he explained. "I was frustrated at the way I was being treated in Atlanta."
Meanwhile, Osorio returned to a new coach and environment with the change in head coach to Dunfield from captain Michael Bradley's dad, Bob.
"When these things happen, you got to move forward," said Osorio, who played alongside Dunfield at TFC early in his career.
"For the people here now, we're trying to create a new environment where the guys are coming in, working hard and being committed to being on this team and doing everything we can to turn this around. I feel that. I'm happy to be back. I want to help turn this around."
The Chicago match will be Dunfield's fourth at the helm. TFC president Bill Manning promised his interim head coach he would receive at least four games as head coach.
Manning was asked how his search for a permanent head coach was progressing.
"It's ongoing, but I don't want to elaborate on interviews, etc," Manning said. "We're in the process. Terry will certainly continue during the break. He's brought a lot of positive vibes to the team, and I hope he gets rewarded with a result."
Forward Federico Bernardeschi remains out of action because of the final game of his two-game yellow-card accumulation suspension.
Dunfield predicted Bradley is two weeks away from returning to action. The midfielder has missed the past two months with a hamstring ailment.
AFTER CHICAGO
TFC will have an 11-day break before resuming action in the League Cup at New York City FC (5-7-11) on July 26. TFC's next MLS game is against CF Montreal (8-12-2) at BMO Field on Aug. 20.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2023.
Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press