VANCOUVER, B.C. - Erik Hurtado is back with the Vancouver Whitecaps after a loan that sent him off to play in the Norway Eliteserien with football club Mjøndalen. Hurtado struggled to find minutes with the Whitecaps last season. After scoring five goals in 30 MLS appearances during the 2014 season. Hurtado's playing time shrunk last season with only 9 appearances and 182 minutes of action.
The 25 year-old spent three months with Mjøndalen and played in 11 Eliteserien matches and a cup match. His lone goal came in a 4-1 loss to Stabæk on Saturday, October 3 from a headed deflection.
A short-term move to Norway provided an opportunity for Hurtado to get some playing time and at the same time build up his confidence. A new experience with Mjøndalen proved to be a unique adventure.
"It was a great experience over there. I got to get some playing time, first team minutes and it was a different experience, a different culture of soccer."
Switching from MLS to the Norway Eliteserien comes with having to make some adjustments and learn on the fly. Taking in different training sessions, team tactics, a language barrier, and a completely different environment is no easy picnic. Mjøndalen doesn't appear to place as much of a massive focus on running.
"No, not a lot more running. I feel like we do a lot more running over here, definitely. Over there, Mjondalen was a great club, very family oriented. Training sessions were short and sharp so everyone came in did their work and then went out."
While a North American club may emphasis preparation for more of a physical brand of football. The model that Hurtado was introduced to with Mjøndalen featured a lot of tactical and tic-tac-toe tactics.
"I would probably say more tactical in figuring out how we can get in behind their defense and how we can prevent them from scoring on us. It's pretty much the basics, but it's a lot more tactical. They focus more on tactics than strength and conditioning."
When Hurtado joined Mjøndalen in early August, they were in the middle of a fight to avoid being relegated. Unfortunately, Mjøndalen did not avoid the drop zone and thus will be competing in the Norway 1. Division. Despite losing the battle to avoid being relegated, the Mjøndalen supporters left an impression on the former Santa Clara Broncos forward.
"For me I just go out and I try and play and have fun. When the games were tight it was crazy with the fans. Maybe it was a little more passionate because we were on the line of getting relegated. The fans were very passionate and that drove us and gave us an extra little boost. Our fans at the Whitecaps are pretty loud and passionate as well. When I hear them out in BC Place, I know that drives us."
Playing on a pitch in front of 21,000 fans at BC Place doesn't quite rival Isachsen Stadion in Mjøndalen, but the capacity crowd of 4,350 spectators made their voices heard during the 2015 season.
"When you're at BC Place you've got 21,000 people yelling in that dome. It's crazy loud. Over there in Mjondalen they have flares going across, they have banners so with the three or four thousand people that they have they make a lot of noise."
Off the pitch Hurtado did his best to fit in and for the most part did quite well. He stayed away from his beloved love for pizza and sampled the fine cuisine of Norway. Conversing with locals was easier than anticipated as many people in Scandinavian countries speak excellent English.
"They cook a lot of fish. Everyone's friendly, everyone's really nice, a lot of people speak English so that was easy for me. I tried picking up the language, but it's really hard to pick-up."
As for blending into public squares with his style.... that seemed to catch the eye of the locals.
"It was very Euro over there. I would have my (Nike) Jordans on and I would have my style on... and the people, they didn't really say anything bad, but I would catch extra eyes looking at me (laughs). They definitely thought I was American."
Going over to Norway to play for Mjøndalen on a loan spell was something that Erik Hurtado needed to have happen. He wasn't getting consistent playing time in Vancouver behind Octavio Rivero, Darren Mattocks and the now recently retired Robert Earnshaw. The alternative could have meant sitting in the press box and being forgotten.
The Whitecaps gave Hurtado a jump-start and will be looking to see how he has improved. In the first week of training camp, Hurtado finished third in the dreaded beep test. He can run for days and he has shown that he is one of the fittest players on the team.
Hurtado even learned a bit about himself in Norway.
"I learned that if I really dedicate myself to something I can break through barriers."
The Whitecaps have a lot of options when it comes to offensive threats. Finding playing time for Rivero, Mattocks, Manneh, Techera, Morales, and the additions of Masato Kudo and Christian Bolanos is going to be tough for Manager Carl Robinson. Going forward Hurtado wants to remain with the Whitecaps.
"I would love that, I love this place, I love the city, I love the team, the staff, my teammates, the trainers and the fans. I like it here, I'm happy here."
If another loan, or a transfer should arise, Hurtado will have a book on how to adapt to new surroundings.
"I definitely have that experience of going over there on loan and having to adapt. It wouldn't be the first time so I think I would be able to handle it a little better."
Notes: The Whitecaps will travel to Tucson, Arizona this weekend to continue preseason training camp.
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