Clark adapting to new team
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Continuing into 2018 a professional soccer career that began in 2003, midfielder Ricardo Clark would by default be a leader on any team.
But don’t expect the 35-year-old to deliver any rousing lockerroom speeches just yet. After 10 seasons with the Houston Dynamo, including each of the past six, he’s still adapting to a Crew team he’s only been a part of for 2½ weeks.
“I think it takes time,” Clark said Tuesday after Crew SC’s training session at Charleston Southern University. “When it comes to the moment in training and in games, I’m going to show that (leadership) and I’m going to bring my personality. I’m going to fight, I’m going to try to give my best, but there’s obviously a familiarity that needs to be established.”
Clark, who made 26 starts for Houston last season, projects as a reliable depth player in the Crew midfield. But even with 337 MLS regular-season appearances, he still has some learning to do in coach Gregg Berhalter’s possession-oriented system.
“It’s a little bit relieving on the running side of things, that’s for sure,” Clark said of transitioning from a counter-heavy style. “(The Crew’s system is an) attractive way to play, so I’m excited to be involved in it and contribute within it.”
Learning on the fly
Nineteen- year- old left back Milton Valenzuela has shown promise on the field early in his Crew career, but it’s natural for a teenager in a new country to face a few challenges.
“I would say the biggest challenge has been the language. Both on and off the field, I need to be able to communicate with my teammates,” Valenzuela said through a team translator. “As time goes on, I think I’ll be able to get it down.”
For now, Valenzuela said fellow Argentina natives Federico Higuain and Gaston Sauro have been helpful, as have the team’s other Spanish speakers.
Even the non- Spanish speakers have tried their best, Valenzuela said.
“The guys that don’t speak Spanish, they approach me and try to socialize with me, and the truth is it makes me feel good,” he said.