Toronto FC’s Federico Bernardeschi announced on Friday that he will not be included in the squad for Saturday’s game against DC United after manager Bob Bradley made a ‘manager’s decision’ based on internal discussions. bottom. Here’s what you should know:
- Bradley said there is no question about Bernardeschi’s future in Toronto and talks with the Italian star are ongoing.
- The winger signed a contract with Toronto in the summer of 2022 as a designated player until 2026. He’s the fourth-highest-paid player in the league, according to the MLS Players Association’s 2023 salary figures.
- Toronto sits last in the Eastern Conference with a 2-7-5 record this season.
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The TFC failed to make the playoffs last year after Bernardeki and Lorenzo Insigne (the second highest-paid player in the MLS) failed to change course mid-season. After last weekend’s loss to Austin FC, internal grievances with Bradley and the coaching staff went full public.
“I think maybe something needs to change. [have] We need to be a little more tactical,” Bernardeschi told the media on Saturday night. “I need ideas on how to play because this is a real problem for me. It’s impossible to play like this when you play without [an] idea. This is a big problem for me. “
Insigne has been in and out of the ranks with various injuries, including being sidelined in the most recent defeat. Bernardeschi has scored three goals and provided three assists in 14 appearances this season.
“We lose every game,” Bernardeschi said. “Draw, lose, draw, lose. Sometimes we win. , players who grow up with the idea of football and individuality need to help and help us understand and follow the idea of football, but we need the mindset of football This is the real situation.”
On Monday, Insigne and Bernardeschi led a conference call of veterans about Bradley’s firing. The Athletic report.
Behind-the-scenes brawls continued as the players and coaches returned to the Toronto training facility on Tuesday, according to people present. Bradley then met with the team coaching board, which included his son and TFC captain Michael Bradley, Sean Johnson, Insigne, Matt Hedges, Jonathan Osorio, Marc-Anthony Kay and Richie Lallier. We discussed how to respond to comments.
After that meeting, the entire team was called in and Bradley confronted Bernardeschi about his remarks on Saturday night. Bernardeschi initially said he had nothing else to add, but when pressed further, the Italian spoke back to both Bradleys and Kaye about team issues and tactics. In the end, the meeting was dissolved and the team prepared for Saturday’s game.
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(Photo: Hijiri Mio / USA Today)
