Bittersweet, difficult and laughable at times, Julian de Guzman acknowledges his run at TFC is far from what he envisioned when he signed a three-year deal in 2009.

“It has definitely been a tough journey,” de Guzman said from the club’s pre-season hotel in Orlando. “Unfortunately, it has taken some time to find a good feeling.”

Toronto’s first designated player lists a combination of injuries, wild expectations, coaching issues and ignorance when admitting the club has fallen far short of meeting supporters’ expectations — results that eventually led to de Guzman taking the brunt of abuse from media and fans.

“It has been a learning experience,” he said, when asked how he has dealt with fierce criticism since his arrival. “It’s your home fans and your hometown coming at you ... It is something as a professional you have to absorb.

“But at the same time it does give me that drive.”

With his on-field issues well-documented, the soon-to-be 31-year-old enters the final year of his current contract coming off an up-and-down season that peaked during last year’s Champions League.

Pointing to an uptick in Toronto’s talent pool to compliment a well-defined system, de Guzman stressed his comfort under second-year coaches Aron Winter and Bob de Klerk.

“(They make) things a lot easier and understandable with my role,” he said. “There has been quite a few adjustments with the management and with the additions.”

The Canadian international isn’t shy in comparing Toronto’s current structure to what it was when he first arrived — a disorganized squad whose front office resembled a revolving door.

“You can go to games now and understand what’s expected of players at a consistent level,” he said.

And while it’s clear the holding midfielder isn’t looking to pass off responsibility for his first few seasons, he cites the club’s maturing fan base as finally coming to terms with who he is as a player.

“It took so long to figure it out, but a lot of Torontonians and fans that follow (soccer) understand what my role is,” he said, noting many believed he would eventually solve the club’s offensive issues. “(Supporters) know what’s expected from me in a system that definitely helps me flourish in those ways.”

A system only recently deployed upon the removal of former head coach and dressing room divider Preki — a man whose performance on the pitch didn’t translate to the sideline.

LAUGHING IT UP

In 2010, de Guzman’s inconsistencies began circulating message boards, media scrums and throughout the stands.

But the criticism both he and his teammates received was due in large part to the amateurish coaching issues during his first full season.

“I think (Preki) thought I was a goal-scorer,” de Guzman said. “There were games where I was playing striker … and even Dwayne (De Rosario) and I would have a chuckle about it.”

A nightmare situation for a player looking to establish himself and live up to a lofty contract.

“Being out of position and expected to do what (Preki) thought I was able to do is something I don’t think any player wants to run into,” he said.

Chuckles aside, it’s also something that has weighed on de Guzman, admitting he’ll take the criticism, but only criticism that’s “collective and that actually makes sense.”

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

With Preki in the past, his health issues behind him and all other excuses exhausted, de Guzman enters what could be his final year in MLS with as close to a clean slate as he could have imagined.

“You look at the game now and you see the system and people understand where plays are being broken up or where the holes are and people are being a lot more educated,” he said. “Again, the criticism will come at a different level.”

And in the final stretch of a multiple-year deal, he knows he’ll eventually be facing high-level criticism in the form of negotiations following the summer transfer window.

“It’s probably the most important moment of my contract,” he said. “It’s important for myself to continue to give it my best … I’ll just see how I’ll be rewarded at the end.”

Whether that reward will come in the form of a reduced Designated Player contract or a high-level non-DP deal, we’ll know come the fall.

What is known is that director of player development Paul Mariner told the Sun earlier this week the club will look at all its options to keep the Canadian international at BMO Field beyond 2012 — something de Guzman would consider.

“I’m totally happy here and imagine myself at TFC for more years to come,” he said. “It’s a dream come true playing in your hometown at a professional level.

“My heart and pride will always be with TFC and every moment I continue to treat it as if it was my last.”

Fit and finally on the front foot, there’s no one else to point the finger at.

“Finally I feel like I’m in a professional environment like I imagined myself being in,” he concluded.