MLS: Jonathan Osorio at the top of his game

MISE À DAY

Amid a completely transformed Toronto FC in July, Jonathan Osorio seems to have found his feet. Author of five goals in his last six games, he is thus at the heart of an undefeated streak that has brought the team back in the race for the playoffs.

Since the 1-0 loss to CF Montreal on July 16, the Toronto team has not lost in Major League Soccer (MLS). With three wins in four games, they were only four points behind a quartet of Orlando City SC, Inter Miami CF, New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati, respectively, on Monday. sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth in the standings in the East. Only the first seven formations of each association reach the post-season ball.

Going back to Osorio, he is on his way to having his best offensive season of his career, playing his 10th season in Toronto. He has also drawn praise from some teammates and his head coach Bob Bradley after the most recent victory at the expense of the Portland Timbers.

“I don't know if it's the best football he's played, but he's definitely playing wonderfully well now,” teammate Chris Mavinga said, according to comments reported by the team's official website. We need “Oso” to play like that.”

“His role has not changed, Bradley said. It's just that the more the team can play good football, the more you see how smart he is and what a good player he is.”

Philosophy

This return to form also coincides with the arrival of three Italian players in Federico Bernardeschi (three goals in four games), Lorenzo Insigne (two goals in four games) and Domenico Criscito.

Aside from their immediate impact, Bradley feels they fit very well into the philosophy he's trying to put in place.

“These guys bring special qualities,” commented Bradley. And then you put them in the middle of some of the other things we try to do as a team.”

And to top it all off, the Italian trio seem to have arrived in Toronto with the right mindset to integrate well within the group.

“You can see Lorenzo, Criscito, Bernardeschi, they are good guys, underlined Mavinga. In the past, they were also captains. You can see they came with the right spirit and so it's good to play with them. It is not only about the quality, but about the personality of human beings. You can see they are real leaders and they push us to play our best.”

Toronto FC will have an important test in their quest for a rise in the standings on Saturday in Florida, as will visit Inter Miami CF.