JV: Have a positive mentality, attitude and keep your chin up so you can score goals. DV: In every practice, in every game, enjoy and try to have fun playing, because soccer is the most beautiful game in the world.
PERSPECTIVES BY POSITION
MK: They say the best goalkeepers are not judged by the saves they make but the amount of mistakes they make. To get to the point of minimizing mistakes, there is a lot of work involved. I would always remind a young goalkeeper to stay focused. In a game sometimes when you make a save and are tired, you still have to get up and make a good distribution. When you are tired, if you are not focused, you can make mistakes. A lot of exercises are based on being focused. How do you prepare for a game?
MH = Michael Harrington: Defender
DV = Diego Valeri: Midfielder
MK = Milos Kocic: Goalkeeper
JV = Jose Valencia: Forward
MH: Hydrate and eat well. Eat and drink the right things.
Have you always played your position? If not, how did you make the change?
JV: The night before, I am visualizing doing things right and eating healthy. You are going to expend a lot of energy so you don’t want to be too full. Being a forward, you need good communication with the striker so you can score goals so the team can win.
MH: When I was younger, I was a forward. I made the U-17 National team as a striker and kind of worked my way back from there. I moved from forward to outside midfielder in college and then from college, I moved back to outside back. I have played pretty much my whole career at outside back in the MLS. I think the way my game evolved, the transition came naturally. The traits that I have fit those positions more and more as I went along; I was less of a goal scorer and more of a defender.
DV: In general, always enjoy playing and above all things try to be constantly creative, be like an artist in the midfield, try to do it on the field of play. In general, I like to read, I like to study different things. To be able to be creative and have a wide view of the field serves a player well.
JV: I started playing as a forward and for the National Team as a winger/striker. Making the change is a tactical question. As a forward, you specialize in scoring goals and as a winger/striker, you are helping the team in a different way. DV: In general, I have always been in this position. Sometimes a little more on the left, others a little more on the right side, but I have always played as a creative striker. MK: I played left winger when I was very young. It was weird the way I started because my neighbor was a coach of a youth team. He needed a goalkeeper, so I just started working with him. I was a basketball player and I was playing soccer, just filling out a spot for left wing when he called me to be a goalkeeper. I loved it and I started doing it.
MK: I usually eat light and get a good night’s sleep the night before. Right before the game, I like watching saves from Youtube, world class goalkeepers, positioning, etc. - just something to get me into the game. What is a good drill or practice for your position that young players can do at home? MH: Crossing. Working on crossing the ball in. JV: Do lots of sit-ups. Work your core. DV: First and foremost, get rest and eat well. Imagine moments of the game. Analyze the movements of your rival and where you will be able to create opportunities. MK: You need to learn how to catch and kick the ball. You have to involve every element of the game.
What is your favorite thing about your position? MH: My favorite part is the ability to defend and attack. I like defending. I think it is fun, but I also like to get forward and use my speed up the line. JV: I like being a forward because I like to score goals. I like to be the focus of the attack. DV: I enjoy being an offensive midfielder because I can create plays, generate assists, and ultimately, score goals. MK: The responsibility. Everyone is relying on you and there is a lot of pressure. It’s hard to be a great
Obviously we don’t have to run too much, it is all based on positioning, catching as much as you can, kicking as much as you can. What other player in your position do you admire? Why? MH: I would say players like Ashley Cole, a guy that has played for Arsenal and Chelsea and done it well for a long time. Other outside backs that I like include Dani Alves, guys who can get forward a lot and create havoc in the attacking third. JV: I am very proud of my father. He was a great forward, great attacker. I really like how he played. I also like Falcao and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid. They are complete players.
keeper. They say that for a keeper, the older that you get, the better you become. It is all a function of your nature. You have to grow as a person to be a good goalkeeper. You have to address easy mistakes and not beat yourself up too much. What advice do you have for kids that play your position? MH: Defend first and get involved in the attack when it is the right time.
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SOMOS TIMBERS
DV: There are a lot. I believe that particularly for me, in Argentina the position of creative midfielder, I really like Riquelme. I also like Lucho González of FC Porto. I have always liked those players’ style. The same is the case of a creative winger. For example, Di María from Real Madrid is a great winger and dynamic as well. Overall, it is the style of a creative player. MK: For me, right now it is Manuel Neuer. Very consistent, very strong with his presence. Defenders and the whole team see that, so that is what I always try to do. I always try to be present for the team so my defenders know I have their back.
SOMOS TIMBERS
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