“You don’t have to be ready if you stay ready.”
That's been Luis Barraza’s mentality in 2024. His commitment to that mantra helped Barraza be the decisive factor on Sunday night as New York City FC won a penalty shootout against Mexican outfit Club Querétaro in Leagues Cup to claim a valuable bonus point.
“It was a couple of conversations actually leading into today,” Barraza said when asked when he knew he’d be starting the game.
“I was informed that there was possibility I was going to get [a chance to play in] the tournament. Knowing that I had been doing everything that I needed to in order to be ready. The build up to now was preparing the same way I prepared last year for every game. It had been wild but I got out there and it was, you know, business as usual.”
Barraza was not short of motivation heading into Sunday’s clash in the Bronx. A proud Mexican-American who grew up watching MLS and Liga MX, Leagues Cup represents a special moment for him, as his two cultures come together to play the game he loves.
“Tonight is extra special because my family and my girlfriend were in the crowd,” he said. “Doing that in front of them means the world to me. They see everything that I put into this profession and my career, especially my sister and my mom. They saw me when I was playing out there in El Paso and Juarez, and now playing on this stage it’s something that makes me really proud and happy that they experienced that. That’s all I could hope for.”
Barraza is candid when discussing the challenges he has faced across the past 12 months. The 27-year-old is in his sixth season with City. After waiting patiently for a shot as the Club’s number one he started 24 MLS games in 2023 but has found opportunities limited in 2024 with Matt Freese earning the starting spot.
“When you're pushing to be the number one it's a bit frustrating, but at the same time you know that you have to be professional," he said.
"I have a lot of respect and admiration for guys in that position [of being second choice]. I've been in that position before. You have to be a good teammate even knowing that you're not going to get anything out of it. We say only goalkeepers understand the goalkeepers’ union because only one guy can play. The third-choice goalkeeper has to push the second-choice, the second-choice has to push the starting goalkeeper, and if you're the guy with the job you have to get out there week in and week out and do the job and perform well."
It was by leaning on the aforementioned goalkeepers’ union that Barraza gained an edge during the penalty shootout. Assistant Coach Rob Vartughian is meticulous in his preparation. It was his research into which way each Querétaro penalty taker typically shoots that helped give Barraza confidence heading into the shootout.
“He’s one of the most tactically savvy guys in the game,” Barraza said of Vartughian. “Especially when it comes to set pieces and to studying penalty kicks. The amount of detail, and work that he does behind the scenes to help us prepare for a game is amazing. A couple of days before the game you get the clips and you see him to talk about it. Then in the moment because you're so locked in he's that extra source of information.”
That diligence helped establish an underlying confidence that proved decisive for Barraza when Queretaro’s fifth penalty taker stepped up.
“It’s actually funny, because the last penalty taker, we didn't know where that guy was going to go,” Barraza said. “I don't think we had any footage on that so we didn't study him. We talked about it before and he said 'If I do this [specific hand gesture], then you have to guess'. He did that [gesture] and I decided to go with instinct. I went to my left and I got the ball.”
A wide smile crept across Barraza’s face as he recounted the save. This is his second special night at Yankee Stadium against Liga MX opposition following on from the 2022 Campeones Cup victory against Atlas.
It's approaching eleven o’clock by the time the shot-stopper has finished taking questions and recounting Sunday night's events to the assembled press in the mixed zone.
He will give himself until a little after midnight to enjoy this moment with family and friends before returning to training the next day where work will recommence and he will reengage his commitment to staying ready, regardless of when his next big moment might arrive.
