CHESTER, Pa. – There’s nothing really good the Philadelphia Union can take from last week’s red card that will cause top playmaker Cristian Maidana to be suspended for at least Saturday’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
But if there’s any bit of solace for Philly, it’s that prized transfer-window signing Tranquillo Barnetta is poised to take Maidana’s place as the team’s string-pulling central midfielder – a role he’s most comfortable in and has played for much of his decorated career.
“It’s bad for us because Chaco can’t play,” Barnetta told MLSsoccer.com following Wednesday’s training session. “He’s a great player and very important for us. I will try to fill this space and do my best and help the team at this position.”
Barnetta has played mostly on the left wing since joining the Union on July 29, but he said he likes playing centrally since he can be on the ball more and create more chances.
Union head coach Jim Curtin is anxious to see the Swiss international in that spot too – possibly for as many as three games depending on what the league’s suspension verdict is for Maidana, who spit his gum out in the direction of Lee Nguyen in the final moments of last weekend’s loss to the Revolution.
And Curtin believes his most recent signing could be close to breaking out after having what he called “his most active and dynamic” game with the Union last week.
“He’s a good all-around player,” the Union coach said. “He’s intelligent, he gives us quality in possession. I’m happy with where he’s at, but like any coach, you want even more. You want the big impact, making the final pass or getting the goal. And hopefully that’s coming soon.”
Barnetta, who has played in three World Cups for Switzerland, agreed with his coach that scoring his first MLS goal would be “the next step.” And he thinks that it’s coming as he continues to slowly work his way back to full fitness following his midseason arrival.
“I’m not at 100 percent,” he admitted. “But each game, I feel better and I feel fitter. So I hope next week will be even a little more better.”
Barnetta has yet to go a full 90 minutes in his four starts, but because of Maidana’s impending absence, that could be coming, too. In the meantime, the Swiss midfielder is just starting to get settled away from the field, moving into an apartment in downtown Philadelphia and getting shown around the city by some of his teammates.
And he’s learning more about what he called a “really fast” league, and hopes he can help his new team take its chances better during the final seven games of the regular season.
“I think we’ve played a lot of games really well but the results haven’t come,” Barnetta said. “We have to be a little more – how can I say this? – maybe hungry to score. I think we’ve missed a lot of chances and that’s a problem.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
