‘It’s impossible to play like this’: Federico Bernardeschi goes off about tactics after Toronto FC’s 1-0 loss to Austin FC
You don’t need to speak Italian to know that Federico Bernardeschi is one frustrated footballer. Hell, you don’t even need to understand football to know that.
Left alone Saturday night, with the previously unannounced absence of Lorenzo Insigne leaving Bernardeschi in a starting XI that included several young and inexperienced players and Richie Laryea on the right side of a front three, Bernardeschi was the most frustrated he’s looked since arriving in Toronto with tattoos that make Tommy Lee jealous and a smile that’s made him one of the most likable athletes in Toronto.
Bernardeschi does not like how things are going at Toronto FC.
“We need to change something, we need more tactics, we need an idea of how we play. This is the real problem for me, it’s impossible to play like this,” Bernardeschi said Saturday during his post-match availability after TFC conceded a stoppage-time winner in Austin, condemning TFC to their fifth loss in 14 regular season games.
“To play like this, it’s difficult for everybody. We play long passes, we don’t have any ideas of how to play. Unfortunately, we lost the game again, for me this is not good. I think this team, this city, the fans, everybody doesn’t deserve this,” Bernardeschi said.
The Italian wasn’t on the pitch for Gyasi Zardes’ match-winning goal because head coach Bob Bradley opted to remove his prized Italian in the 66th minute for debutant Jordan Faria, a move that set TFC Twitter on fire.
Shortly before Bernardeschi was substituted, the broadcast cameras showed the Italian visibly frustrated with Kobe Franklin. The 20-year-old had dribbled the ball halfway up the pitch and unleashed a shot that was blocked by an Austin defender. Franklin did have noticeably better options, including Bernardeschi who was waiting to be fed a through ball down the left side.
“When a player has the ball, we don’t have ideas for the movement of another player. If you create [chances] by yourself? Good. If you have three, four [opposing] players around you, it’s impossible,” said Bernardeschi, when asked about the lack of support around him.
“When the player has the ball, we don’t know how to pass. This is the real problem. We lose every game, we tie, sometimes we win. I can’t believe this, this is not good for the young players, they need to grow up with an idea of football.
“The players with personality need to help us understand and follow the idea of football – but we need the idea of football, this is the real situation,” Bernardeschi said.
TFC attempted just 300 passes Saturday night against Austin FC, with an accuracy rate of less than 70 percent. With just 38 percent possession, the Reds managed only three shot attempts and didn’t force Austin to make a single save.
“This is another problem, we cannot score without shooting. If we don’t shoot at the goal, we can’t score,” Bernardeschi professed.
Only the New York Red Bulls and CF Montréal have managed fewer goals in the Eastern Conference than Toronto FC’s 13 this season. At least that’s four goals better than Sporting KC, which at least means TFC aren’t dead last.
“I’m really proud of the team and about every player because it’s difficult to play like this,” Bernardeschi added. “Every week, we found a mentality to keep going but it’s difficult; this is the reality. I think the guys have to be proud about their job on the field. I see every training, the young guy, the experienced guy, they put everything on the field. For me, we need something different,” Bernardeschi concluded.
Will there be a different manager in the dugout when Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United come to town next weekend?
What do you think of Bernardeschi’s comments Saturday night? Let us know in the new WTR comments section.
Well well. When you say this after that poor and indifferent a performance, that’s a bit rich (pun intended).
Arnold ! What are you watching ? These guys are are no better then a community college soccer team, Fede was running hard every time the ball was in his vicinity which was rare because our 7 players in the defender/ midfield positions have zero ability to move the ball out of our zone.
Or a guy who won a euro cup, and has never played for a complete idiot and sporting director like the one at tfc…only bob has the ability to ruin the two euro cup winners, once again absolute malpractice by the people up above to have this complete moron still employed. Make no mistake about it things will only get worse as long as bob is here.
Need reliable players and a better coach. Where is everyone? Berna 100%.
Several of us have been talking about Bob and his lack of tactical awareness since last season. I miss Ed for those comments each week.
It was clear the DP’s were not on the same page as the others and it wasn’t clear why. The subs and positions played were questionable. Now we hear from the source that the team is NOT practicing how to attack and move the ball. This explains why young players are frozen, they are trying to react to the DP’s in real time without rehearsal.
Javier Perez has been posting tactical solutions, on Twitter, for the TFC issues as they happen. Fans see it, ex coaches see it, players see it. Now players are saying it and Fede waited as long as he could.
This isn’t Greg vdw taking a swing at Vanney in practice. This is a very positive European star trying to engage the team, trying to work with the coach, engaging the public. He’s said these things in subtle ways, he’s used body language, now he is being more direct when a playoff position is still more than a dream.
Bernardeschi made explicit what we all have been watching during the entire season. The team has no plan. Nobody knows their position on the field. The coach allowed the sale of young players with possible good future under wise supervision and approved the incorporation of old provedly low quality players. It is obvious to everybody where the solution starts.
Honestly this is the worst stretch of football I can recall from TFC – even going back to that long winless streak in the 1st year. We’re not even getting chances any more.
I was on board the Bradley hire based on his resume alone, and I’ve come to see that I’m dead wrong. When someone from Juventus and the Italian national team comes here and says “We have no plan. No tactics. No ideas. It’s impossible to play like this. Young players cannot learn without training tactics/passing.”
Bradley MUST GO IMMEDIATELY! His ideas are not as disastrous as Armas’s, but that’s only because he seems to have NO IDEAS at all. And our best player flat-out came out and said it.
Well said there is nothing I disagree with except I hated the fraud bradley hire since day 1…but other than that u r completely correct and nice to see you on the board again.
To add to my earlier post- not saying I disagree with him. At all. Just thought it was Berna’s worst game with TFC. They happen.
It is time.
The way they are losing games is really disconcerting.
There is no progression. They are regressing.
True, Fede was not engaged or excited. Let’s accept the possibility Insigne stayed home due to being pissed off and he has communicated that passionately to Fede. Fede was trying to get Bob and the team inside but was started on his off-wing, Star player is asked to play out of position when most starters are injured???
Keep in mind that Fede and Lorenzo were available for free, had offers in several top leagues, chose the money of MLS based on the “project” they were sold. In that light the comments last night, after the final straw of “play left wing for fun”, seem quite calm and helpful.
They are loosing games because they are poorly managed. It is impossible that this team would be in last place with better coaching decisions. Games where 3 pts should have been earned, poor substitutions were made and lack of formation adjustments, wins ultimately blown and a tie was settled for, you need to protect a lead when you have one, especially in the latter stages of the second half. Yes there are injuries and as a result this has exposed the lack of depth that this team has on the bench. But you still must work with what you have and that ultimately falls back on the player selections, team formation placed on the field and system of play, all by the manager! Bernardeschi is 1 million percent correct on his comments. The idea of game tactics and an idea of how to play must come from whom?? Maybe the coach…just saying.
On another note, the broadcasting of games on appletv is absolutely ridiculous. Especially when TSN is broadcasting Montreal Impact games at the same time. You are not promoting the game this way. People that would normally watch TFC on TSN are not watching on appletv….I have spoken to a number of them and they do not even know what TFC is up to lately. Bad! The league has got this one wrong and MLSE better wake up to this as it will effect the fan base long term in Toronto.
We’ve known what Bernardeschi is saying about Bob for a year and a half now. We know this 15 games into last season when the team had only 4 wins at that time.
We know this when Bob played Shaffelburg as a left back, when he played Petrasso as a winger, when he played Pozuelo as a winger, when he played Perruzza & Akinola as wingers, when he stuck Nelson into the team for nearly 30 starts last season, when he signed a defender as a DP, when he handed starts to Akinola even though he only scored 2 goals, when he kept the 3-4-3 & 4-3-3 even though neither were working.
Is Bill Manning in a cryochamber somewhere in deep freeze? Does he not pay attention to club at all? Does he not attend the odd practice or two once in a while? What does he actually do as the president because now this is all his fault.
The cracks have been showing for a while. I’m glad the comments came from Fede instead of Insigne as he is a lot more likeable. It doesn’t excuse some of the absolute lack of effort and grit Insigne and a few others have shown at times. Giving up on the pitch is a big slap in the face to the fan base.
I am always about patience when changes happen and I was vocal in giving Bradley a chance last year and early this year, but enough is enough. There needs to be a big purge by MLSE, from Manning, to the trainers, to the coaching staff. It has not been working and only getting worse for some time now. Imagine what an absolute disaster this franchise would be without the deep pockets of MLSE. They have been successful in spite of themselves. Being loyal to the staff is admirable, but at this point the loyalty to the staff that have been part of so much mediocrity is just a self inflicting wound, killing this franchise and the passion of its fans.
It’s frustrating to see results like these what a waste of talents if not being utilized they got pissed and won’t play their best every week I I see new players where’s the consistency
The solution is to fire Bob Bradley and then have Michael Bradley become a player coach and then Michael Bradley can rehire Bob Bradley as assistant coach.
You’re joking, right?
I’m as pissed as anyone else, but I would have really liked to have seen what this team could have done with all the players healthy and fit to play. I’m not sure at this point if a coaching change would make any difference.
The only player sold recently that I rate is Shaffelburg, the others had a much lower ceiling.
As for the current depth, Franklin and Mabika seem to be treading water while the others look to be drowning.
So, how is a coaching change going to bring more out of these guys?
The truth is, the money should never have been signed over to Insigne, that guy is clearly a player like Zlatan, he only wants star service and doesn’t want to work his ass off in a parity league. Hell, Zlatan worked way harder.
Should have signed Giovinco and then spent money on a bunch of 20-24 year olds that would have worked their asses off in this league.
But they didn’t.
So we’re where we are. And I think sacking Bradley would only make it much, much worse.
Insigne is clearly a Defoe and he doesn’t want to be here.
They need to cut that expensive player loose and fix things now.
Keeping bradley is a joke, he has no tactics , doesn’t sub properly he has 3 up top when it’s clear it doesn’t work…anyone is better this is 100 percent on bradley and 100 percent any coach can do better and the team would get better zero doubt about it. Let’s see what euro cup winners can do with a coach who isn’t a complete moron
Sacking Bradley would make it worse, how so? There’s 15 teams in the East, TFC are 15th. Would they drop to an imaginary 16th if Bob gets fired?
Bob had a fit team once the Italians and Kaye arrived last season. They went on to win 4 out of 14 games and lost a cup final to Vancouver. Bob has one of the worst win percentages in TFC history. Javier Perez, with a worse team has a higher win percentage. In terms of style of play, even Armas is head and shoulders over Bob. At least Armas has a coherent style.
In a season and half Bob has used 4 DP’s, had an entire new backline & goalie, new midfield, new front three, used 6 different strikers, had 4 different left backs, 5 new centre backs. He’s been given A LOT of options. He’s had a buffet of players to chose from.
As for the DPs, they are fine. They each average a combined goal or assist every other game while playing under a useless coach who has no system, tactics etc.
On a side to inject zlatan into this conversation is so disingenuous the dude won a serie a title when he went back to Milan at the ripe age of 40, yes he’s been injured alot at 42, of course but the dude went back to milan and played a major role at 40 in terms of winning a serie a for milan…any mention of zlatan and galaxy is totally misinformed. The dude is a legend. Galaxy not winning it had nothing to do with that legend.
You can get tickets in great seats for $5-$10. How long will MLSE continue to allow such a poor product to be displayed in Toronto. TFC games used to be sold out, resale tickets going for hundreds of $$
I didn’t renew seasons a cpl seasons back knowing horrendous bob is gonna be hired, yes I still love this team and I travel to watch this team…but yes I’m gonna take advantage of these tickets with a bunch of friends we will be shouting fire bradley the whole game as we will be sitting behind bob.
I know I’m sounding like a broken record here, but why hasn’t Bradley been fired yet?
But come on guys. Just look at how cool our Brampton boys look with their pants tucked into their underwear. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, right? That’s what matters …
The reports today about the Insigne/Bob fight that lead to Lorenzo not playing are no surprise. It’s exactly what I expected when Fede came off at 65 minutes of passionless play; Italians were no longer willing to go along.
This blow up is timed perfectly for when Michael is away and not a buffer between players and Bob, where they can speak a bit more without the familial drama. It’s also quite possible some of the North American players are uneasy with the tension between DP’s and Bob and that prompted Fede to be so pointed in his praise for everyone post game. But those other players didn’t get promised the same BS “Project” when lured away from comfortable European contracts.
The pedigree of elite Italian soccer and familiarity with winning in relegation settings means they will speak up much more quickly.
The only reason I can think that there has not been an announcement about Bob leaving is they want a plan B in place first. But for sure MLSE can’t ignore this now that MLS commentators have published this in weekly post game video summary.
I’m a crazy TFC Footie fan and season ticket holder from year 2. I’m now at the point where I can’t even watch TFC on tv never mind go to BMO. The performances are HORRIFIC and not watchable. The Team, which has quality everywhere, is list in space .
I thought Bob with his amazing record was going to be the dream ticket. I thought Michael would start to coach then eventually become Manager. I have never been so wrong. Bob had been more destructive that ArmASS. Great young players sold, no identity, no system, no inspiration. Just lost. The players have quit the intensity is gone as are the fans. Look at the empty stands. It tells a story.
It’s Disgraceful that MLSE have not acted. Message to our owners. Right now I’m done and won’t be back. Time for change, time for a clean out and new direction.
Ps I Love Bernie, Its amazing that he had the courage to say publicly what we already know.
The only reason I can fathom MLSE not making a change is the background work being done to find someone? And not wanting to go interim coach method? I am so confused.
Perhaps they’re still trying to sort out the next phase for their big money-printing machine disguised as a hockey team.
That team is likely their priority.
While that maybe true don’t under estimate the incompetence of the MLSE board. The only reason we ever won was because of Tim leiweke who came in fired all the dead weight ie earl Cochrane nonis Payne nelson etc.,..MLSE board doesn’t have a clue about any of sports just how to rip off their fan base like their parent companies rogers and bell.
MLSE probably just don’t care, that’s the sad truth. They have the Leafs to worry about and that golden goose brings in more money for them. As long as the twenty dollar pints keep flowing at BMO who cares.
If Fede has had enough…God help us all.
He has been 100% positive vibes since his intro presser. The fact that he felt the need to express himself in a language he is still learning speaks VOLUMES about his passion for this team and how frustrated he really is.
There is a chance I will get hate for what I am about to say.
I had the tendency to compare the TFC situation with Barcelona under Ronald Koeman where nothing seemed to be working. They were not scoring goals and no tactics were working, they were not creating scoring opportunities and the defense was failing often. Koeman was replaced with Xavi and the new coach came with a fresh eye and some immediately applied tactics: get the ball in to the box to created opportunities, no more tiki-taka only all the way to the goal line. It did change something and they built on that. Not changing the coach is a big gamble, bigger than getting a new coach. If we see it, they should be able to see it, too.
A few things were obvious to me from the very beginning and some things were already known and later confirmed. Known: MLS is not on the big football map, it seems it is ranked #16 between the Austrian, Danish, Scottish and Swiss leagues (on globalfootballrankings). All small countries, rich countries, with leagues of 12 teams, except Switzerland that has only 10 teams. These leagues have usually 2-3 powerhouses but as results in the big European soccer I can only mention Celtics, Rangers and Basel. But the league is big in your minds, as it is clear that it is big in your hearts. It is growing on me, too.
Not known: TFC is ranked the 24th most valuable club in the world at $705 million. It is right behind Ajax Amsterdam. Maybe you do not see how unfair this is but Ajax and the teams from MLS are not in the same league, pun very intended. But this is the answer when you lament about why MLSE does not seem worried. Money is there. You do not change a winning starting line-up, do you?
Not known: last season I went to one of the few wins they had and did not pay much attention to the rest of the season. A bit of a wrong impression, it seems. This season, I got my tickets excited to see the 2 Italians in action along the Canadian core, especially after the world cup. I did not know that the team will play THAT bad. I kept waiting for a change but last time I’ve seen a game that bad was a 3rd league encounter, in the bowels of Europe.
Did not know from the very beginning but it was obvious that they do not pass well. As my wife put it: what’s wrong with them? Well, they are not Barca… but some of the players get more money than in Europe and the overall impression in regard to the two DPs is that Berna’
is the only one TRYING while Insigne is just trying to to something.
I am glad that some players are speaking up. You know how hard is to explain to a football connoisseur that TFC is worth almost three quarters of a billion and they are last place in a not that good league?
I honestly don’t think I’m going to bother watching anymore until there is a new manager.
I’m not sure getting rid of Bob right away will have enough impact to save the season. Getting players back from injury and adding more depth in the upcoming transfer window would be better.
In terms of successful coaching change, I’m thinking of Ten Hag at Manchester United. He was brought in after a search and a review of what was wrong at the club. He has started turning things around with a definite style and management system. But it’s taking time with lots of bumps.
I see very little in Bob when it comes to in-game management and if Berna is correct, tactics are not well communicated or non-existent. But general consensus when he started was that he would likely see out this year before the plug is pulled. A deeper full lineup, support for the current DPs and a couple of wins and we’re not even having this conversation. If the season is lost anyway, what’s the point of adding more turmoil?
The point is to end the problem and start anew. Reverse the question: what would be the point of waiting to fire this guy? At least by replacing him now you give the new guy a transfer window to get started this season
Agree and it sends a message to the players and the fans that management recognizes the current situation is not good enough and change is required.
Imagine going into the off season and BB gets fired right after the last game. Then there will be a month or two while new coaches are put in place and a few more months to assess the squad. By then the off season is nearing the end so likely few personnel changes until the summer window in 2024, by which time next season may also be lost.
TFC need to be in a position early this coming off season to make the changes required for next year.
I can see that, considering the off season is short, that was pretty much the case this past fall and winter. My only point was to do it with some idea or overall plan of where things are going. Right now we see no evidence of any vision. Most of what I read and hear leads me to think he’ll get the season. That could change, considering how bad it’s gotten, way worse than I think was expected. And if it needs to be sooner thinking ahead to next year then so be it. Gonna be hard to watch and wait through all that either way.
Cheers
I agree regarding the plan. My hope is Manning saw the writing on the wall and started making calls a few weeks ago. Worst case if TFC put in an interim coach now they can start a serious search now.
At the start of the season I thought that Bradley would get until the end of the year but I assumed they would be competent if not competing for trophies. I don’t think Bradley can last that long. He might be given to the summer transfer window with a chance to get some bodies back but even that is starting to look unlikely.
It’s possible that TFC split Bradley’s role and keep him as a GM but put a new coach in. Not sure this a good idea but might be a way for everyone to save face. I think it would hinder a new coach but who knows.
Pirlo became available today…no chance on keeping bob on at any capacity, he’s stubborn and will make any coaches job a nightmare because he thinks he the smartest guy in the room.
“…adding more depth in the upcoming transfer window would be better.“
Bob’s brought in Insigne, Bernardeschi, Salcedo, Sapong, Diomande, Priso’s brother, Kaye, Servania, Coello, Vazquez, Petrasso, Criscito, Franklin, Petretta, Kosi, Chung, MacNaughton, O’Neill, Rosted, Hedges, Mabika, Henry, Johnson and I might be forgetting others too. He’s brought in all those guys in one and half to seasons to no avail and you want him to add more?
Firing Bob is not about saving this season it’s about getting rid of a bad coach who isn’t good enough for the job.
About 6 on your list are gone and the depth is low. Injuries are proving that. Yes, regardless of who does it, more will have to be added. Roster numbers in the mid to high 20s are not uncommon.
What we need to keep things interesting is a prediction league to forecast “what comes next” in the management saga.
Here is what I see today after all the chatter and the big letdown on the weekend. Bob has the smallest guaranteed contract of the coach/DP group. He is the easiest salary pick to sacrifice to fix this mess. And, it lights a fire under the players, particularly the less than impressive Insigne who has less to offer every time he turns away from a challenge.
I also heard the curious input from Michael Singh on Twitter today with Sara and James on Room 4-4-2. He “took the 5th”when asked to commit an opinion on Bob still being coach next Monday. This leads me to believe MLSE have given Bob (or Bill) the week to get the coach and players on the same page (I listen to what Singh doesn’t say just as much as what he does). If it’s still a frozen relationship on Sunday, Bob is cut loose.
Bob didn’t just forget how to coach. But, his credentials are weak in that they are American, pre elite football, nothing current or innovative, just reputation left. If he can reflect on his position and understand he is the emperor with no clothes then he might be able to bring sides together to create a collegial approach to save a reputation. Slim to nil would be the chances so this is our last week to pick on him.
I hope you’re right! It’s beyond obvious that he’s not to up the job.
Didn’t BB sign like a 5 year deal. Not sure, his salary is the easiest one to cut. Likewise, MLSE is not letting him go anytime soon. Gonna be a long season. If they can finish top three in Leagues Cup they can be in CCL next year!
Insigne needs to go as well. When MLSE gave him that huge contract, it was bad news right away. Someone mentioned the Jermaine Dafoe likeness of the situation. Its similar, in the sense that Insigne seems motivated for his own reasons to be here ($)and little else, while Dafoe was here to try and get himself back with the England squad. Insigne is the wrong fit as DP in Toronto.
Doesn’t matter how long his contract is (I heard 4 yr guarantee). When the ticket and merch sales drop measurably (it started) then you are talking MLSE language and paying Bob to go away becomes profitable.
Manning has screwed up a Vanney promotion, 2 manager hires, 2 coach hires. If Manning goes then Bob follows as nobody inherits a loser and embraces it.
Manning can possibly buy himself time with a temporary coach hire that gets to the playoffs. But we don’t know if the pressure is more on him or Bob, but it has to be somewhere when you pay 13 million to a couple of European stars who mock your coach and structure.
There is a coach available with MLS coaching experience, a great former player who won 5 MLS Best XI awards, 2 Gold Cups and most recently coached two of the most famous and successful EPL clubs. That coach’s name is Christopher Armas.
I know you aren’t serious but can you imagine this version of TFC with their collection of 30+ year olds trying to play Armas’ pressing style. Don’t think we would be able to field a starting 11 after a month.
Lol… don’t give the morons at TFC any ideas
Regarding our inability to string passes together and actually score….
Giovinco was at at my son’s soccer game yesterday. Wonderful lad. He looks like he can play for the Reds (I didn’t tell him that…).
I don’t see how things would have been worse if he were here than they are now with Diomande, Sapong or Akinola.
Why bring back Giovinco? Don’t you know Bob Bradley’s judgement of talent is masterclass he is an American legend, don’t you remember when 99.9 percent of every fan in this city was calling this guy or saviour? Brings back a broken down VV on 300k another broken down player Diomonde on 550k , signs Akinola off a major injury to 700k, Sapong on 600k, tops up Oso to 1.4 million and gives up a ton of cash and pays 750k to MAK. Bob knows best!
It truly boggles the mind. Seba would’ve come back for less than all those guys combined, and I’m certain would be doing more for us than said guys combined.