ANTHONY MANNINO in Houston- It must be the one of the most disappointing days in a soccer player’s career when their name is not part of their country’s World Cup roster. Last year Sacha Kljestan experienced that disappointment. However, Kljestan did not let missing the World Cup affect his play, and a few days later he signed with the most successful club in Belgium, Anderlecht. The move has paid off for Kljestan, and playing in the Champions League for a competitive club has helped the midfielder’s confidence.
“I feel more confidence from Bob. Obviously, I think like I said since I have been over at Anderlecht my consistency everyday, my mentality, my training, my confidence has gotten to an all time high,” Kljestan said. “So right now I feel really good about myself and my ways of helping the team, so I feel confident right now. I think my coaching staff has confidence in me, and I think most importantly above all my teammates have confidence in me, and finding in the game, and helping join the defense to the attack. So I think overall it has been good.”
It was not just Kljestan’s words that made me believe he was confident; it was also his demeanor. He looked and sounded like he has a point to prove to the US coaching staff, and wants to make sure that his name is on the roster for the 2014 World Cup. The move to Anderlecht has helped Kljestan reach his potential that the US saw when he scored a hat trick against Sweden. The midfield has made the most out of his substitute appearances in the group stages of the Gold Cup, which earned him a starting spot against Jamaica. His confidence is not just growing in Europe, but throughout the Gold Cup, Kljestan’s confidence has started to grow after each game for the USMNT. I think Bradley would be making a mistake to not start a player that is this confident and playing well. Kljestan has felt right at home playing the attacking midfielder position in front of the lone striker.
“I think any midfielder or attacking player loves to play that position, because you kind of have the freedom to move around the field, and really find the game,” Kljestan said. “So it comes easy to me, because I played there in college at Seton Hall that was my position try to move around find the game. Try to connect all my teammates so against Jamaica I tried to do that. I tried to get Clint really involved in the game. Get Michael coming from midfield, Jermaine coming from midfield, and you know try to link up with the forward as well. It’s not an easy position to play, but if you can find the game well you can have good moments.”
Getting his teammates involved is exactly what Kljestan did against Jamiaca. Although Kljestan is not the biggest scoring threat that the US has, he makes it easier for players like Clint Dempsey to get into scoring positions. Maybe, this is what the US squad has been missing, a player like a Xavi or Andrea Pirlo. I know Kljestan is not the same caliber player, but he does what Xavi and Pirlo do best. That is getting their teammates into the right sports to attack the opposing defense and controlling the flow of the game. Against Panama the USMNT will need to control the match the same way they did against Jamaica.
“I can notice it in training veterans guys will come up to you. They know how I have been training, and I think I was recognized from the coaching staff, and my teammates, and importantly for myself as well,” Kljestan said. “I felt good you know like I said an all time high from consistency and confidence in my game right now, and you know it’s the most I can ask for right now just to continue to get better.”
It is this consistency and confidence the US will need from Kljestan if he starts tonight. He is part of the solution to fixing the problem the US had during the group stage. If Kljestan continues to get better each game he plays for the USMNT, then he will not have to relive the disappointment of not being a part of the US’ World Cup roster in 2014. It is a struggle and Kljestan will need to continue to work hard every day.