MLS: Amid European interest and Drogba comparisons, Larin stays focused on the goal

Cyle Larin sits down in the away dressing room at Red Bull Arena, his head in his hands. Now in his second season in Major League Soccer, the days of when scoring a goal would satisfy him are now long gone.

“I mean I know it’s going to be harder this season,” Larin told YahooSport UK after Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to the New York Red Bulls. “Defenders are going to watch me more. It just means I have to be sharper, and quicker with my touches, and my runs. I have to make smarter runs, and just overall play quicker with the ball. I’m doing that, and if I keep doing that I’ll continue to score goals.”

The 21-year-old took just three minutes to find the net against the Red Bulls, a calm finish after some neat build up play down the right hand side. Last season, Larin netted a hat-trick at Red Bull Arena, and in the process broke the MLS rookie scoring record set by Damani Raplh in 2003. At the time a surprise, there is less shock when Larin finds the net in 2016.

Chosen first by Orlando City in the 2015 SuperDraft, his transition into Major League Soccer has been seamless, with the forward netting 17 league goals in 2015, and 4 in 6 games already this season, “I think people expect me to score and I expect myself to score,” Larin said. “I just motivate myself to keep going and keep pushing. I want to get better every day, and goals are what motivate me.”

Although Larin’s ability to find the net has not changed in 2016, the way in which his opponents handle him has. Typified by a fist half foul from Ronald Zubar, the Frenchman gave Larin a small clip on the back of the ankle to let him know he was there, “The defenders [this year] are tighter to me and quicker to me,” Larin admitted. “It just means my thinking process has to be much quicker so I can get to the ball.”

A quiet, and soft-spoken young man, Larin continues to do his taking on the field. Described by his teammates as a hard worker, his off-season was spent preparing for year two in MLS, “I did a lot of speed work, and a lot of explosive work, in the off-season,” he said. “We worked on me holding the ball and being quicker than the defenders. That was the main thing for me, to get speed. Once we had that, the football would come. When you’re physically ready the football will come after that.”

The physical development is just one half of Larin’s evolution. Expectations are high after his debut season, with his teammates eager to help him manage his own mentality, “He’s got that added pressure this year, and he’s dealt with it superbly,” defender Seb Hines explains. “I think he’s scored every game he’s started, and become a real threat in this league. We could probably do with pitching in with some more goals to take that pressure off him to be honest.”

At times marginalised on Sunday, Larin left the game with the fewest completed passes of those that played 90 minutes. Somewhat indicative of the team’s inability to fashion chances for him, the absence of teammate Kaka also felt notable, “Last year it got better and better as time went on,” Larin said of his partnership with the Brazilian. “He thinks very fast and he kept telling me what to do. I think I started to think quicker and react quicker as the season went on.”

Still able to unsettle the Red Bulls backline, the striker also had claims for a second half penalty turned down by the referee, much to the frustration of coach Adrian Heath. Speaking afterwards, Red Bulls’ defender Ronald Zubar admitted he had endured a tough test against Larin, “Since last year he’s showed his quality, and game after game he’s progressed,” Zubar said. “We need to be clever [when we play him]. You have to deal with both [the strength and the speed].”

A childhood fan of Didier Drogba, there remains certain similarities with the way the former Chelsea man and Larin play. A comparison that has been drawn in public before, Zubar sees why, “We spoke with Karl [Ouimette] a lot as he knows him from the [Canadian] national team,” he said. “Overall we did a good job. It’s a little bit like playing against [Didier] Drogba. He’s complete. He’s a really talented guy and I’m sure his future is overseas in Europe.”

Although he has been linked to Lazio, Larin would not be drawn on a potential transfer. Throughout his brief career in MLS the striker has only ever focused on the present. Right now, that is scoring goals, and helping Orlando City towards participating in the play-offs. As for individual aspirations, Larin once again kept his thoughts private, “I have my own targets for the season,” he said. “With myself and with my team. I want this team to go far.”

From his first professional goal, to earning the MLS goal-scoring record for a rookie, Larin’s journey has been impressive to watch. A rise that is set to continue, it seems that although the expectations placed on him may constantly change, his own mentality will not, “I was just waiting for the service and when I get it I’ll score,” he said. “If I keep getting the service I’ll put my chances away. I know if I keep being patient I’ll get my chances in front of goal.”

Follow Kristan on Twitter: @KHeneage