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Sometimes when a club possesses a superstar that has been shining as brightly as Sebastian Giovinco has been for Toronto FC this year, the fine performances of other players can be eclipsed.
However, even with all the shock and awe that the Atomic Ant has brought to Toronto and Major League Soccer, it is not a stretch to say that midfielder Marky Delgado has likely been TFC’s most impressive newcomer of 2015 not named Giovinco or Cheyrou.
After not seeing the pitch in the early part of the club’s 2015 campaign, the 20 year old former Chivas USA player has been a mainstay in Greg Vanney’s starting eleven for several weeks now.
The California native, who was acquired by Toronto via the dispersal draft for Chivas USA players when that club shut down, has added important balance and depth to Toronto’s squad while showing excellent technique, linkup play and work rate, as well as exceptional versatility.
Asked if he is surprised to have played as many minutes as he has on a team with world class midfielders such as Michael Bradley and Benoit Cheyrou, Delgado answered with the type of confidence that has characterized his play on the pitch.
“I’m not surprised because I know I am a player with a really good skill level,” Delgado told RedNation. “Playing alongside (Bradley and Cheyrou) and training with them, I knew my skill would only improve from learning from them and watching them play.”
“I’m extremely happy and pleased with myself and the performances I have been delivering and with the positivity that has come my way since I moved here and came to Toronto FC,” he added. “I’m in a good place right now and I’m happy.”
While many speculated that Delgado might slot in at the right back spot in TFC’s depth chart when he was first acquired, Vanney has used the Chivas USA Academy graduate exclusively as a midfielder, with the youngster playing the majority of his games as a right midfielder but also filling in at the top of the midfield diamond in an attacking role when Michael Bradley has been unavailable due to injury or International duty.
“I came in here fighting for a spot and it didn’t matter where because I can adapt to different positions quite quickly,” Delgado explained. “A lot of people thought I would play right back because I had played there two seasons before coming here and I played well there. But coming here they have had me set as a midfielder.”
The United States under-20 national team player has brought much needed balance and versatility to Toronto’s lineup, as he has been able to contribute both offensively with goals and assists and also defensively as a smart, responsible player who knows when to drop back when other teammates have pushed forward or overlapped.
In addition to learning on and off the pitch from veterans such as Bradley, Giovinco and Cheyrou, Delgado has also meshed well and formed a bond with the other young midfielders on Toronto’s roster such as Jonathan Osorio and Jay Chapman.
“We have a lot of young talent on this team,” Delgado said. “We are all friends off the field as well. We have a really good connection and it shows on the field. We feel comfortable playing with each other and we all have a high skill level and it shows out there on the field.”
Overall, Delgado sees his first season with TFC as one of growth both on and off the field. A homegrown player during his time at Chivas, the California native has now moved across the continent to a different country far from family and friends.
“It’s been a big move for me personally on and off the field in my career because it helps me grow as an individual,” Delgado added. “It helps me take a lot of responsibility into my own hands and not being dependent on people such as my parents. Having moved away from them, it helps me a lot to grow as a man.”
According to Delgado, the most important aspect of his growth as a player over the course of the season has come with an increased focus on the mental aspects of being a professional player.
“I’ve learned a lot so far this season about how to stay mentally strong because when I first came here I did feel a bit out of place,” Delgado explained. “But after the U20 World Cup I came in and Greg Vanney, Michael Bradley and all of the experienced players spoke to me and they helped me to feel right at home. That’s when I got my chance to play against Montreal and I’ve been on the field performing since then and everybody has seen me perform well.”
“I’ve really learned that mental strength is a big part of a player’s career,” he concluded. “You can have all the skill in the word but if you aren’t mentally strong you can end up in the wrong place and go downhill from there.”
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