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Toronto FC: 2020 Preview – Silverware beckons again?

By Matt Coles

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 06: Toronto FC players huddle up before the MLS regular season match between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew on October 6, 2019, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 06: Toronto FC players huddle up before the MLS regular season match between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew on October 6, 2019, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Toronto FC
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 06: Toronto FC players huddle up before the MLS regular season match between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew on October 6, 2019, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

With less than a month to go until the start of the 2020 MLS campaign, we are taking a look at how each team has evolved since last year and their chances this term. This time, we look at Toronto FC.

For the third time in four seasons, Toronto FC made it all the way to the MLS Cup final, and for the third time, they faced the Seattle Sounders. However, as in 2016, the Canadian side fell at the final hurdle in a 3-1 defeat that they largely controlled.

After surprisingly missing out on the playoffs in 2018, the 2017 MLS Cup champions made it back into the postseason thanks to finishing in fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. Impressive wins against D.C. United, New York City FC and Atlanta United led TFC to MLS Cup, but they couldn’t quite complete the dream postseason run.

light. Related Story. Toronto FC: Best-rated starting XI of 2019 season

Just like MLS Cup, Toronto also finished as runners-up in the Canadian Championship, losing out to the Montreal Impact in the final. TFC also played in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2019 but fell at the first hurdle as they lost out to Panamanian side Independiente, confirming their failure to win any trophy for the first time in four years.

Here is how Toronto FC shape up ahead of the 2020 season.

SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 10: Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (10) in action during the MLS Championship game between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC on November 10, 2019, at Century Link Field in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 10: Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (10) in action during the MLS Championship game between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC on November 10, 2019, at Century Link Field in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Best Performers

The two men in the Toronto FC squad to score double-digit goals during the regular season were also the only members of the club’s best XI to average a WhoScored rating of at least 7/10 across the campaign.

Alejandro Pozuelo was the club’s best player last year, averaging a 7.41/10 score across his 30 appearances, in which he scored 12 times and assisted 12 more. Strike partner Jozy Altidore added 11 goals in 22 games, as well as adding a further seven assists.

The next best player in the 2019 team was centre-half, Omar Gonzalez. Auro, Justin Morrow and Chris Mavinga completed the backline, while Quentin Westberg, who debuted in the league in 2019, became the club’s No.1 shot-stopper, but all were inconsistent throughout the season and only came together once Gonzalez arrived in the summer.

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