New boy Mattocks eyes MLS Cup
HAVING NETTED 10 goals last season, national striker Darren Mattocks says he is aiming to score at least 25 goals with his new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, FC Cincinnati.
The 28-year-old Mattocks started out last season brilliantly at DC United, as he netted six goals in the first nine games of the season.
However, he was relegated to the bench following the arrival of former England captain Wayne Rooney in the summer.
Mattocks, who signed a two-year contract with FC Cincinnati last month, told The Gleaner that he is looking forward to the opportunity to lead the club to the MLS Cup this year.
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY
“I think it is an excellent opportunity for me to play for this, because based on the type of players that I see they are going after, they want to win right away,” Mattocks said.
“I have never won MLS before, so this is my only aim and focus for 2019,” he said.
The former Bridgeport High School Manning Cup star added that part of his aim this season is to not only lead the team in scoring, but to win the 2019 MLS Golden Boot award.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the 10 goals last season because I could have scored a lot more, but when they brought in Rooney, then they stopped playing me, so it means that I just played half of the season,” Mattocks said.
“I really think that the 25 goals is doable and that will be the aim going into MLS this season,” Mattocks, who is delighted with the terms of his new contract, said.
“It is good enough because I never really want anything longer than two years because let’s say I do well in the first six months, then I can always re-sign a longer deal with more money,” Mattocks pointed out. Mattocks will be joined at FC Cincinnati by his Reggae Boyz teammate Alvas Powell.
The 24-year-old Powell joins FC Cincinnati after playing his previous six seasons with the Portland Timbers.