Every day that goes by, I learn new things, and that’s beautiful: Leonel Miranda

By: Nayib Moran 

Leonel Miranda is living a new stage in his young career – talking to the press right after the halftime whistle and shouting instructions using the few English terms he has learned.

“In Argentina we don’t do that [get interviewed in half-time], they’re new things. The truth is that every day that goes by, I learn new things, and that’s beautiful,” pointed out Miranda after the game outside of the Houston Dynamo’s dressing rooms.

Against Orlando City, the Dynamo didn’t have a single shot on target, and the good football that Coyle talked about after the 1-0 win versus Columbus Crew had only flashes of it on Friday night.

Miranda was given his first MLS start, and he didn’t fail to the occasion. He expected a start on the night that Kaka visited BBVA Compass Stadium for the first time.

“I felt really calm; I knew that I was going to play today. Perhaps the difference between starting and not starting is that one can think with more rest, and that’s always good. I liked the experience. I want to keep working, having minutes, and the truth is that I came here to play,” emphasized the 21-year-old Argentinean on loan from Independiente.

Few times Miranda was able to receive the ball with options to use a little bit of his gambetero skills and amaze the crowd. He made a back-heel pass in the early stages of the match that made the crowd roar, not even Kaka did something of that sort during the game.

Miranda believes that he couldn’t do more plays that made the fans get off their seat because most of the time he received the ball on the center of the pitch, and not on the right-flank, where Brek Shea guarded him.

“Maybe every time I received the ball, I received it in the middle of the pitch, and not that close to goal, but there was never a physical disadvantage. The reality is that every time I tried, it was really difficult to break their defense. We take the loss, but we are calm, and we have to continue working,” clarified ‘Leo’.

Kofi Sarkodie is key for Coyle’s Dynamo not only for his versatility, his speed, his guts, but also his ability to communicate in Spanish with his teammates. Kofi will play an important role in the adaptation of Spanish center back Raul Rodriguez, who missed Friday’s game due to a hamstring injury, and Leonel Miranda.

Sarkodie analyzed Miranda’s first league start with the press in the Conference Room.

“I thought overall today, ‘Leo’ was good, defensively. I think he was in good spots throughout the first half, specially. He kept their [Orlando City’s] left-side back and not much coming forward. So Leo and I are communicating, I know a little bit of Spanish, so it makes it a bit easier.

“But ultimately, the first 45 were good, and then he came in and did his job until he was subbed out in the second half. Leo is a great player, he’s been here, worked hard during the preseason. He’ll be looking to have minutes throughout the year and continue to play well,” concluded Dynamo’s right-back.

Miranda played 52 minutes, and his second-half included erratic passing, but his defensive performance alongside Kofi was something Leo was really pleased about.

“I think that Kofi puts a lot of effort on making stuff easier for me. He understands a lot [of Spanish], and I think today we didn’t have that many problems on our flank, so I leave calm for that as well,” said Leo.

The Dynamo is still constructing its offense. It’s best attack this season has come from that right-flank, while Boniek Garcia is still trying to connect with forwards Giles Barnes and Will Bruin.

Orlando City’s Eric Avila, who’s a great friend of Dynamo’s new forward Erick “Cubo” Torres and played with him at Chivas USA, said as he exited the stadium, steps behind Kaka:

“I played with Cubo for almost two years and he’s a really good friend of mine. I think he’s going to come in and fit well with the Dynamo.”

Photo courtesy of Thomas Gosse