TORONTO – Goals win games, as the saying goes, but defense wins championships. 

In Chris Mavinga, Toronto FC have added another piece to the side that aims on returning to the MLS Cup Final this season. 

Since joining the team back in February, Toronto has seen Mavinga grow with every match, displaying the sort of quality that has seen him play for some of the biggest clubs in the game.

The most recent example came in the 61st minute against NYC FC on Sunday, a game-saving tackle with the match delicately balanced. 

“There was one play at 1-0 when Chris makes a recovery, slide tackles [Maxi] Moralez who was through,” recalled Vanney post-match. “For me that's maybe the game.”

Defenders seldom get the plaudits, but such heroics have become routine from Mavinga.

“He's been really big for us,” boomed Alex Bono on Wednesday after training. “He's putting in that tackle, winning that ball in the air, making that tracking run that is the game-saving play for us. That's huge. To have a guy with so much quality and so much experience has added to our back-line.”

The praise kept coming.

“First off he's left-footer,” said Eriq Zavaleta, echoing a point made by Vanney. “Seems obvious, [but] being comfortable on the ball on the left side is important for the system we play. He brings an added athleticism – his recovery speed is very good. His ability to win tackles; he's eager to step into spots. Every game he's grown into the formation, become more comfortable.”

But most crucially, as pointed out by Drew Moor: “He loves to be here, loves to come out and work every day, push for a starting position, and push everybody around him.” 

“He's got this quiet confidence about him that nobody is going to beat him. One-vs-one he's as good as there is in the league defensively,” continued Moor. “He's been a huge boost; come in and provided that healthy competition that myself, Nick Hagglund, Zavaleta, and Jason Hernandez need and want. It makes Greg's decisions on the weekend that much more difficult.”

For his part, Mavinga admits his MLS career got off to 'a difficult start'.

Making his debut against Atlanta United, he was twice burned by the blistering pace of Hector Villalba as TFC drew 2-2 at home with the expansion outfit.

In the days after, there was a conversation between player and coach.

“I said to Greg, 'I was naive',” recalled Mavinga midweek. “After this first game I was not ready emotionally. I was ready to play – my body, I was fit – but not emotionally.”

It was admittedly a rough introduction. Or, as Mavinga phrased that initial impression, “first game, we don't know him.”

But he has since buckled down, refocused on the game, telling himself, “OK, it was my first game. I have to play 100% [focused] on the field, because if you're not, you cannot be good. Next time I have to be.” 

“Now, every game, I don't care who we're playing against, I have to be 100%,” stressed Mavinga. “It's good, but I have to do more, be better, because I still have a few mistakes on the field.”

One source of improvement has been the rekindling of his passion for the game. Highly-touted as a teenager, the 26-year old defender found himself separated from the pitch in Russia with Rubin Kazan.

“It was a difficult time there,” recalled Mavinga. “It was a new coach after six months, he didn't want me. Six months of not playing, just watching football on TV. When I came here, I wasn't ready. [But] here, the ability to play... to enjoy my job.”

That relish has shown.

“Good guy, funny; likes to joke around,” said Bono when asked to describe Mavinga off the pitch. “But when it's time to hit the field he's serious and you know he's serious. When the level is not high enough he'll let everyone know, he'll raise it himself. Having a stand-up guy like that is really good for this team.”

Raheem Edwards called him a 'joker', as this tweet evidences:

Said Zavaleta: “Adds a different element to our locker room. He's come out of his shell, as every new teammate does, as the year's gone on. An easy and welcome addition to locker room and the team.”

And Moor: “He is a little quiet, but you can tell he's enjoying life right now. He's always got a smile on his face.”

But don't let that smile fool.

“You know he's got your back. He wants you to have his,” continued Moor. “There is a relationship there amongst [the defenders] that we'll run through a brick wall for each other and he would be first in line.”

And as for that aforementioned tackle on Moralez, Mavinga knows what it was, but, as he said before, he expects better. 

“It was a good tackle, everybody tells me,” said Mavinga. “But for me, [while] it was good for the team, if I was in better position at the moment, it would not happen.” 

“I was out of position,” he explained. “It was my fault, so I had to do something crazy, something lucky... sometimes [I won't be]. This time I was, but I have to be in better position and secure everything.”

Entering his sixth month in Toronto, Mavinga lit up when asked about his time here: “It's a very good city.” 

“On the field, I love the passion of the fans, the atmosphere is very great,” smiled Mavinga. “I love this and I missed this in Russia. It's very important for me and my family. When they came here to visit, they saw this and said, 'this is what we like'. I want to stay a long time in Toronto.”