Schedule no friend to struggling Reds

Injuries, slow start leave Toronto with practically zero margin for error

Outside Toronto FC’s dressing room in its north Toronto training centre is a giant photo of the team celebrating its 2017 MLS Cup win.

Underneath is a quote from legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: “Winning takes talent. Repeating takes character.”

The 2018 season has been more of a test of character for the MLS champions than anyone could have imagined. The campaign is less than half over and Toronto (4-9-3) is mired in 10th place in the Eastern Con- ference.

The schedule is not helping. Coming off a 1-0 loss Sunday to the visiting New York Red Bulls, Toronto plays at Minnesota United (5-10-1) on Wednesday and at West Conference leader Sporting Kansas City (9-3-5) on Saturday.

Away games at Orlando, Ottawa (the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal) and Chicago follow.

“We’re not nearly as far away as a lot of other teams in a similar position are,” defender Eriq Zavaleta SAID. “Obviously we have a lot of talent and that helps. And it’s a group that’s been through good times and bad times together and I think that ultimately is incredibly important.

“Fortunately we can look at the bigger picture right now and see that there’s over half or just about half of the season left. You can certainly lose a season in the first half of the season but we don’t think we’re far enough away that we’ve done that yet. And we’re going to make as much of a run at this thing as we can.”

Over the past six seasons, the last playoff team in the East has averaged 48.7 points over 34 games. Toronto is currently at 15 points (a 0.94 average) and would have to average 1.87 points a game the rest of the season to get there — only Atlanta (2.06), New York Red Bulls and Dallas (both 2.0) and Sporting Kansas City and LAFC (both 1.88) are playing at such a clip.

“There’s no way around any game. They’re all important now,” Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio said.

“We all understand that the margin for error is getting smaller and smaller with each game that passes and we don’t get the result that we need to get out of the game,” coach Greg Vanney said. A gruelling CONCACAF Champions League campaign and injury-ravaged roster have taken their toll on Toronto. Those who were fit were played into the ground (witness Bra- zil’s Auro, who is out with a hamstring issue).

The loss of Jozy Altidore (foot surgery) and the recent absence of playmaker Victor Vazquez (knee) have put the offensive onus on Sebastian Giovinco, who is creating goals (seven assists) but not scoring as many (three) as in the past.

Other injuries perhaps have gone unreported. Captain Michael Bradley, who normally makes the Energizer Bunny look sluggish, was on the treatment table for some time after the Red Bulls loss.

Vazquez did not train Tuesday, with a cortisone injection planned in a bid to reduce the swelling in his knee. He is listed as day-to-day but, given Minnesota plays on artificial turf, is not likely to figure Wednesday.