Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

Aug 8, 2011 Email Steve Bottjer



Six matches into his Major League Soccer career with Toronto FC, Torsten Frings has lead his new squad to a record of two wins, two draws and two losses in all competitions during a difficult transition period in which his club has brought in thirteen new players and shipped off seven to other clubs. And given that roster turmoil, the former German International believes that Toronto is genuinely improving while also stating that there are still keys areas of the game in which they must improve dramatically. First and foremost, the former Werder Bremen captain believes that Toronto needs a stronger defensive base from which to build out the rest of the

team’s play. “I feel that the team needs to work on allowing fewer goals in total. This team is not as strong as some of the other teams in the MLS, so we just have to work harder and practice more on the defensive parts of the game,”

says Frings. In terms of improvement, the former German National Team stalwart has seen improved ball movement in recent matches and believes that the players are quickly becoming more accustomed to each other while also doing better at implementing the on the ground tactical approach of Head Coach Aron Winter. “I feel that already we are playing a better short game and not just the kick and run. I believe that that we just need to grow stronger as a team together and just have to be more focused on really playing the game, as opposed to a basic kick and run game,” says Frings. As arguably the most pedigreed and experienced player ever to wear a TFC kit, Frings is someone who is always in the right place to make a difference on the pitch and he rarely makes an errant or ill advised pass. Asked if he is keen to pass that type of expertise and experience on to the young players on the Toronto roster, the veteran of two very successful World Cup tournaments with Germany believes that it is part of his role as a team leader to guide the young players on the squad. “I want to teach the young players, but I also understand that each individual player has their own style and each player has to play the way they feel most comfortable. But if they want to learn I am a player who is more than happy to show them that.” One experienced TFC player who the 6 foot tall midfielder believes can make a make an immediate difference for Toronto is another Bundesliga veteran, Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman. “He is a very good player and he has proved that already in Europe. Unfortunately, he has been injured for a long time and now I am hoping that he will get better and better. I am excited to play with him and I believe that we will make a good pair together in the midfield.” If Julian de Guzman can play to his full potential and score a few mores goals like he did against D.C. United last Saturday, it will no doubt lighten the load on a player who has become Toronto’s unquestioned leader on the pitch. And while Frings has worn the captain’s armband on a couple of occasions already, Winter has not yet named the German as the permanent team captain as of yet. With many TFC supporters expecting that to be a more formality than anything else, the 34 year old veteran indicates that the mantle of team captain is one that he is ready to take on again. “The trainer makes the decisions about that, but if the trainer tells me I will be the captain in further games, I will be very happy about that. I am a player that will take responsibility and will happily take on the responsibility of

being captain.”