Toronto FC: 5 big talking points after Champions League campaign

1) The emergence of Jonathan Osorio

This is likely the biggest of anything that will show on this list. At the age of 25, a huge breakout now from Osorio can solve a lot of TFC’s problems in the attacking midfield for years to come.

Osorio won the Golden Boot for the most goals in the Champions League campaign. The Canadian scored in every single round for TFC, all the way from the Colorado Rapids to the final against Guadalajara.

Last year wasn’t the biggest for Osorio. Obviously, a lot of his stats were hindered by the fact he was a bench player on Greg Vanney’s squad. His first goal came four good months into the season, against the Columbus Crew.

It’s incredible what momentum in one competition for a player can do in another. Osorio’s brilliant Champions League round has had a huge affect in MLS as well. The midfielder got right back into domestic play with a big goal against the Chicago Fire this past weekend.

Osorio has one shot on target per fixture and has 2.3 successful high quality passes from his position. His numbers have obviously taken a huge jump from this time last year, as he’s already produced more this year than all of the 2017 season.

Osorio’s all-around play is really capped off by his passing ability. He has a close to team-high of a 90.2 pass accuracy and has two successful long balls per game. Osorio is even productive on the defensive side of things with close to two tackles and interceptions per fixture, which is insanely close to the numbers of Gregory van der Wiel.

There were some doubts of keeping Osorio last season, because he wasn’t producing much close to his prime age. All of that wonder has now quickly vanished. Osorio looks like a mainstay in Vanney’s starting 11 for the present and the future.