Such is the current plight of Toronto FC coach Aron Winter.
The Reds have lost an MLS-record eight straight games to start the regular season. Toronto is the only team in the league without a single point (all of the other 18 MLS clubs have at least seven), and there is a real possibility that TFC could be essentially out of the playoff race by June.
Toronto also has its work cut out for them in the Amway Canadian Championship, a tournament it has won the past three years, after settling for a 0-0 road draw against the Montreal Impact last week. Failure to win Wednesday's semifinal second leg would see the Reds eliminated from the competition. With this in mind, it's reasonable to think that Winter is feeling a bit of pressure, but if he is, the stoic Dutchman isn't showing it.
Asked directly after Tuesday's team practice if he felt his job was on the line based on winning Wednesday's match against Montreal, Winter simply and confidently answered, "No."
Does he remain confident that MLSE, the club's owners, will remain patient with him and keep him as coach even if TFC loses to the Impact?
"Yes. Yes. But I don't think we'll lose tomorrow," the Dutchman said.
So there you have it. All is well with TFC. But is it really?
A few players spoke out after the club's recent MLS loss, a 2-0 setback to DC United at home on Saturday. Among the most outspoken was forward Ryan Johnson, who openly questioned his coach's defensive tactics.
Winter told reporters Tuesday that he has since talked to Johnson, and chalked up his forward's outburst to letting his emotions and frustrations getting the best of him.
It would have been nice to have heard Johnson's take on his chat with Winter, but after openly speaking his mind in the aftermath of DC game, the Jamaican international declined to talk to the media on Tuesday, as did goalkeeper Milos Kocic and midfielder Terry Dunfield.
Their silence is curious, as all three have recently been vocal and public supporters of Winter. Is their confidence in the Dutchman, and the confidence of their teammates, on the wane?
Midfielder Eric Avila suggested that a clearing-the-air meeting on Monday between the players and coaching staff has the club back on the right track, and that everybody is on the same page.
"Before the season started we had some sort of identity of where we wanted to go and once the season started we lost it a little. The meeting helped us out in a way where we're back on track (and know) who we are," Avila stated.
After bunkering down against DC and Montreal in the first leg last week, Winter has promised a more attacking approach for the return match against the Impact.
"We have to work hard and go for it," Winter said.
Defender Adrian Cann added: "When we played in Montreal we sat in, we didn't really play attractive football. We went there to get the result, to get the draw and keep a clean sheet. Coming here playing at (home) it'll be a totally different story. We're going to go at them."
Whether three key TFC players will be along for the ride remains to be seen.
Captain Torsten Frings injured his shoulder against DC, and Winter said the German midfielder might be on the roster for Wednesday's match depending on a medical evaluation later on Tuesday.
Midfielder Nick Soolsma (hamstring) and forward Danny Koevermans (groin strain) are questionable. Soolsma appears more likely, as he participated in full training on Tuesday, while Koevermans worked on his own on the sidelines.
NOTES: Whichever team emerges from this series faces the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between the Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Edmonton. The Whitecaps won the opener 2-0 in Edmonton last week... The two-legged final will take place on May 16 and 23. If the Whitecaps win their tie against Edmonton, the first match of the final will take place in Vancouver... Coach Aron Winter said defender Dicoy Williams (out with a knee injury since last June) is close to returning, and that the Jamaican is expected to play in an upcoming exhibition game against an unnamed opponent.
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