USMNT: Cristian Roldan ready to fight for a place in a crowded midfielder

The competition for places in the midfield of the US national team will be fierce in the months and years to come, with more quality options in this area of ​​the field than in the USMNT pool.

Of all the names discussed in this competition, Cristian Roldan is one who is not mentioned as much as he should be. The Seattle Sounders midfielder does not inspire the same enthusiasm among fans, as young European options Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, and is more often relegated to the list of MLS-based options like Michael Bradley, Will Trapp, Kellyn Acosta. and Marky Delgado, but Roldan is preparing for 2019 as a strong candidate for a great year for the club and the country.

The sources say Goal that Roldan impressed in the January camp, looking for the system installed by the new USMNT coach, Gregg Berhalter. Roldan's strengths as a player make him perfectly able to meet the demands imposed by Berhalter's style of play. That's why he's a good bet to start in his debut as a national team coach on Sunday against Panama.

Roldan is afraid to speak too positively about the speed with which he has adopted the Berhalter system, but he readily admits to having appreciated the adaptation, while realizing how much competition for the places in the midfield will be tough.

"I'm impatient because if you train around good players in this system, you'll improve," Roldan told Goal. "You want to be able to compete, I'm ready to put everything into play." I'm happy to take on all the talent that comes in. There are a lot of young guys who are very good. interesting to see when we all hope together to camp how we were gelling together. "

Roldan has become a well-balanced midfielder after four seasons in Seattle. He helped the Sounders win an MLS Cup in 2017 and ambad 122 career starts at the age of 23. He's shown himself versatile enough to play wing and even as a right-back last season. It's this willingness to do what his team needs and that ability to do the dirty work to help his teammates shine, which he thinks can make him an important player for the USMNT.

"In Seattle, I'm certainly not the star," said Roldan. "I can play my role, so why could not this role be here with the US national team?" It's a similar situation where many guys are wearing bigger names than me, but at the same time time why not compete for a starting point? I must be strong, and I am ready for that. "

Off season, Roldan has signed a new five-year contract that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the team. Before the new agreement, Roldan would have started the next season in the last year of his contract, but he chose to secure his future with the Sounders rather than play his contract and test the waters in Europe.

"I felt like Seattle had a great plan for me in the future, and they had a very good role for me in the next three, four or five years," Roldan said. "I still have a higher level to reach here I can improve in Seattle and play more than if I were in Europe and that coach does not know you're going to come , and it's obvious that the risk is greater if you "It could be more rewarding, but in the end, I also felt that when coach Berhalter took office, I think he has respect for the players MLS and MLS and I felt like I would have a chance to be selected. for the national team playing for Seattle.

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"Seattle has brought me into this league and has made me a better player every year," Roldan said. "As far as Europe is concerned, you never know.This happens to so many players where an option is offered to them, so it is certainly possible.Things are changing fast in the world of football, you have to prepare everything, but I'm happy in Seattle. "

After the departure of Osvaldo Alonso, Roldan is expected to badume a much greater leadership role with the Sounders, a role for which he says he is ready. Although he's only 23, Roldan has the mentality of a veteran after four full seasons as a starter. This experience has helped him develop a balance that makes him able to meet all the challenges that come his way, and that's why Roldan thinks he's ready to take up the challenge of becoming a departing for the USMNT from Berhalter.

"If I continue to play well, Gregg has a keen sense of talent, guys who will fit into this system and what mold he has," Roldan said. Goal. "I have a slightly different role in Seattle as far as my position is concerned, but in the end if you fit this mold, this system, you will be rewarded, I feel that at this stage I have a chance, but you have to show it in games. "