It is common for foreign players to struggle acclimating to Major League Soccer, the travel, the opposition, the venues.
For some, it takes a month, others a year. For Ronald Matarrita, his acclimation was immediate.
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Since arriving from Costa Rican powerhouse Alajuelense in January, Matarrita has been a mainstay in New York City FC’s lineup and through 10 games, the Costa Rican international has arguably been the club’s most consistent player.
Matarrita, 21, has started nine matches at left back and played in all but 20 minutes of those matches. He also has assists in NYCFC’s last two matches, a 3-2 win over Vancouver and a 2-0 victory at D.C. United.
“He’s a young player who is full of energy. He likes to go forward and I really like that,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “He still has a lot to work on in his defensive duty, but what I ask of him and what I want from him is to be part of the buildup from behind. I like him to go forward because that is his strength.”
Matarrita’s vivacity has also been evident on the training pitch where he is as competitive as he is on game days.
“I’m really pleased about his work ethic in training. He’s a player who gives me 200 percent every day, even in training and he’s a fighter,” Vieira said. “He’s a guy who wants to win every single game, even in training, and he’s got a positive attitude. He’s a really good player to have in the squad.”
Matarrita, though, is humble. Instead of focusing on individual glory, he credits the play of the team in back-to-back wins.
“The most important thing here is the team,” Matarrita said. “If the team is looking good and playing well then the individual shows as well. I personally am trying to be at 100 percent with my body and mentally it’s also important to be present at each game. I think that the support from my teammates and from the coaches have helped me to be motivated and to work at my highest potential and to play great games.”
SEE RONALD MATARRITA AND THE REST OF NYCFC AT THE NEW YORK DERBY
Support from teammates, especially leaders like David Villa and Andrea Pirlo, is a big reason why Matarrita said he’s been able to adapt to a new league in a new country seamlessly.
"I think that David Villa and Andrea Pirlo are the leaders that carry the team. I think that as teammates we work together and support each other to the maximum,” Matarrita said. “I think that my knowledge of football has helped me here, but it’s important to keep learning from my teammates.”
