For a guy who’s played at the highest level in Europe and appeared in two World Cups, Torsten Frings sure does scare easily.
The German international has been a bit of a recluse since joining Toronto FC last season. He’s not always made himself available to talk to the media, and when he has the conversation has always been in his native tongue, relying on someone else to translate his answers for the press horde.
The funny thing is that it’s not because he’s a stuck-up star with a toxic attitude. Instead, he casts a very shy figure, someone who has been hesitant to open up because of a lack of confidence in his English skills.
Turns out he was worrying over nothing. In what was believed to be his first interview in English as a member of TFC, the former Werder Bremen star demonstrated a strong and eloquent command of the language — although the shyness is still there, as he insisted that TV cameras were not allowed to participate in the media scrum.
“Please, just easy questions,” the German politely said as he casually pulled up a chair for an intimate chat with a select group of print reporters at BMO Field on Friday afternoon.
The first question right out of the gate was about his injury status and when he might come back. Frings, 35, strained his right hamstring in Toronto’s season-opening loss to Seattle on Mar. 17. The original prognosis was that he would be out four to six weeks, but coach Aron Winter revealed earlier this week that his captain is days away from returning to action.
While Winter suggested it was possible that Frings might be on the bench for Saturday’s home game against Chivas USA, Frings thinks he needs more time.
“I feel good, but it’s not my decision, it’s the doctor’s. He said the risk is too high play (against Chivas). I think next week against Chicago I’ll be ready,” Frings said in his trademark whisper voice.
The Reds sure could use him back in the lineup, though.
Toronto has looked somewhat lost without their midfield anchor and team captain, losing their first four games of the Major League Soccer season by a combined score of 9-2. Individual mistakes have cost the club valuable points and the team’s attack hasn’t exactly been clicking.
Still, Frings thinks the club is better than its winless record suggests.
“We’ve played not that bad. We make too many mistakes, easy mistakes … But I think we’ve played well,” he said. “It’s good for us that (Joao) Plata scored in (the Champions League) twice and Danny Koevermans (scored) against Montreal … I think it’s getting better in the next week. It’s a process.”
He later added: “We are making the mistakes and that’s costing goals and wins. We have to play better and not make mistakes, especially in the defence. I think everybody knows this.”
This injury layoff has been frustrating for the German, as he is not accustomed to watching from the sidelines, unable to help out a team that is struggling.
“It’s hard for me. I’m injured, I can’t play and I want to help the guys. Sometimes it happens and you’re injured. Soccer is a team sport. It’s not important that one guy is on the pitch, or not. I’m sure we’ll start winning now and everybody knows we have to do this,” Frings said.
Even though he’s been unable to help out on the field, Frings still acts like a captain, having called a players-only meeting earlier this week after the team’s 2-1 loss in Montreal last weekend.
“I spoke with the guys. The team spirit is important,” Frings explained. “If the spirit is good then we can win the game. This week I had a bad feeling about the spirit … I believe in this team and I trust the team and I’m sure we get points (on Saturday).”
The good news for the club is that Canadian defender Adrian Cann is set to make his return to the lineup Saturday. Cann hasn’t played since suffering a season-ending knee injury last May.
Also, fellow injured defenders Dicoy Williams and Jeremy Hall are thought to be a few weeks away from returning, and Frings believes once this team is fully healthy it can compete for a playoff spot.
“I think we can get the playoffs, but we’ve started badly,” Frings stated bluntly. “The next important thing is that we win a game and that everybody feels better. We have a good team and we can get the playoffs but we have to win the next games.”
Asked about his everyday life in Toronto, Frings had nothing but glowing things to say about a city that allows him to bask in relative anonymity.
“I love Toronto. It’s such a different life for me,” Frings admitted. “Nobody knows me and I can walk around and enjoy everything. That’s one of the reasons why I’m here. In Germany, I can do nothing. Here, I’m a free man.”