HANOVER, N.J. – There’s been plenty excitement surrounding the impending return of Gonzalo Veron, but the squad is not about to pin their hopes on just one player.
Gone are the days in which superstar or two came to define the New York Red Bulls, with the emphasis now shifting to the collective unit. And while Veron admittedly brings a different element to a New York attack that has struggled to start the season, the Red Bulls insist that one player does not make or break their side.
“The squad is pretty deep and we can’t just rely on a couple of guys, but we are excited to have Gonzalo back on the field,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “He adds a different dynamic to our team that is certainly unique within our group. The ability for him to run behind the defense and take guys one-on-one should open up space for everybody else on the field.”
There is no denying the Argentine’s ability, as he so often showcased throughout the team’s stay in Florida for preseason. In particular, his partnership with forward Bradley Wright-Phillips gave the team a different dimension that simply hadn’t existed in years past.
Deployed on the wing in his first half-season in New York, Veron looked a different player entirely when played centrally, a role he openly prefers. The move paid dividends early and often, and he only looked to be getting stronger as the preseason rolled on, bagging a hat trick in the team’s final friendly of the preseason.
“It worked in preseason, but it’s different test now that the season’s started,” Wright-Phillips cautioned. “Hopefully, he brings a bit of life to the attack.”
If they can replicate their early preseason success, chances are that defenses will have plenty to worry about between the two. And there’s reason to believe the tandem will pick up right where they left off.
If the two do manage to find their names in the starting XI, it will be a new look for MLS defenses to cope with. And after a scoreless start to their first two games of the season, head coach Jesse Marsch is looking forward to what could be in store for the duo.
“It will be good to have Gonzalo back,” he said after training on Thursday. “He makes us a more dangerous team. He and Bradley had a really good pairing in preseason and I expect them both be dangerous again.
“The nice thing about it is that Gonzalo is very aggressive to look to play behind the backline and it often opens up room for not just Bradley, but our creative midfielders to find a little bit more space. It’ll be the first time that we get to look at those two in a league match up top, and I think it will be a very dangerous combination for us.”
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