Long after the locker room had cleared, Toronto FC bench boss Greg Vanney cracked a smile during an offline chit-chat with the Toronto Sun post-game.

Only Michael Bradley and Will Johnson remained inside the room shortly after whipping the Montreal Impact 2-0 at Saputo Stadium. In that moment, Vanney seemed satisfied.

The job’s not done, of course. Not close-to-done, actually. Beyond early season plaudits and fan approval, the Reds haven’t won a thing — something that’s not lost on Vanney and his group.

But as Vanney said post-game, Saturday’s win was gratifying six months after being at the helm for one of the worst losses in Toronto FC’s 10-year history.

Moments before, he told a jam-packed news conference that the performances this season have been just as massive as the results they’ve produced.

Vanney sees what we all see: The Reds have as good a chance as anyone to win the East this season.

They’re tactically balanced in a way we’ve never seen. Finally, after 10 gruelling seasons, the Reds have an identity.

Their collective approach — some would say to an extreme — to defending is actually helping them create chances on the offensive end.

It’s a system Sebastian Giovinco is thriving in.

HE’S UNSTOPPABLE

Teams know about the Atomic Ant.

Still, nobody’s been able to stop the best player in MLS.

His stat line is ridiculous: 28 goals and 18 assists in 39 career MLS starts. What!?

Ready for your mind to be blown?

Toronto FC’s stubborn defensive scheme has actually helped Giovinco and the rest of the Reds create high-quality scoring chances this season.

Yes, the Italian international receives mass amounts of praise for the aforementioned statistics.

What they ignore, though, is the fact Giovinco works back defensively to help relieve pressure and win games.

He’s more animated than anyone when something bad happens in the defensive end.

When Giovinco drops in deep to break up plays, opposing defenders lose him. He’s more difficult to track and nearly impossible to mark when he’s emerging from the defensive third.

When possession turns over, Giovinco’s usually is an easy outlet wherever he is on the pitch. He’s able to face up on retreating fullbacks or combine with Jozy Altidore or Jonathan Osorio.

There’s a reason Giovinco always seems to be in open space while opposing defenders attempt to maintain their shape around the halfway line.

Giovinco wouldn’t be in position to exploit gaps in front of opposing back fours if he wasn’t willing to work defensively.

GIO TO EUROS?

Rest easy, Giovinco. You’ve done everything you can to make Italy’s Euro squad.

His head coach was asked post-game if he believes the Atomic Ant deserves a place in Antonio Conte’s Azzurri side.

“I don’t pick their team,” Vanney said. “They have a lot of great players. But he’s a guy that can make a difference. We saw that when he was with them in the qualifiers. He was spectacular.

“Sebastian can come up with things that, in my opinion, nobody has really been able to come up with in this league.

“That’s a decision for the (Italy) coach to make, but he’s a guy who’s in form and is ready if he’s call upon.”

The reigning MLS MVP hasn’t slowed down since Conte called him up last season and Giovinco once again leads the Golden Boot race.

He’s done everything right before and after being called in to Italy’s Euro qualifying squad last September.

It’d be a shame if he gets left off considering the form he’s in.

OSORIO STEPS UP

Osorio did everything but score on the weekend after Vanney placed him at the top of Toronto’s midfield diamond.

Toronto’s homegrown player took some heat after squandering a few clear-cut chances early in Saturday’s game but did a fine job of distributing beneath Toronto’s two strikers.

Considering the 23-year-old has been asked to play more midfield roles than I previously knew possible, it’s commendable that he’s been able to adjust his game and have an impact recently.

“Quality talent Osorio is,” Montreal Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier tweeted Sunday. “Doesn’t get enough credit for his play.”

On Saturday, Osorio completed 33 of 36 passes (92%) against the Impact, 22 of which came in the attack, according to InStat.

His production will continue to allow Bradley and Johnson to play with more control and patience.

AND ANOTHER THING

Anyone wanting to send ex-MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke “thank you” greetings?

Where would Toronto FC be without the big and brash American businessman who seems to like Major League Soccer more than his family?

Bradley told me last week that he wouldn’t be here without Leiweke.

We can therefore deduce that Giovinco and Altidore likely wouldn’t be in Toronto, either.

BMO Field undoubtedly would still be an embarrassment to professional sports and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko might not have been targeted.

Even Leiweke’s biggest detractors must concede that Toronto FC fans benefited from his time here.