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Davis’ Discussions: Sacha Kljestan Looks Ahead
Jan 22
For Sacha Kljestan, 2010 will be different.
The previous year started fantastically for the United Men's National Team midfielder—he scored a hat trick (featuring a stunning 35-yard free kick) against Sweden in January and trained with Celtic—but saw him struggle for both club and country while plummeting down the American depth chart. Kljestan earned nine caps but only one, an eight-minute stint against Slovakia, came after the Confederations Cup final in June. For a player who looked to be on the verge of a staring role for the Stars and Stripes, the results were unimpressive. Kljestan, to his credit, willingly admits he lost focus.
"I think maybe I took a few breaks during the season and that wasn't good," he told Goal.com over the phone on Thursday afternoon while taking a break during U.S.'s January training camp. "I think as a whole there were times when I wasn't as determined as before and I wasn't putting everything into it. I was trying to rely too much on soccer and not enough on effort."
After struggling throughout the spring and summer, the 24-year-old Huntington Beach native showed his determination near the end of the Major League Soccer season. Kljestan began to regain his form and helped lead Chivas USA to the MLS playoffs, where they fell in the first round to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
His improved play earned the former Seton Hall standout a call from American manager Bob Bradley. He traveled to Scandinavia for the team's two friendlies in November and was tapped to participate in the mid-winter training sessions. The three-week camp, which culminates on Saturday with a friendly against Honduras at the Home Depot Center, represents an opportunity for Kljestan to continue to find his game. He's close to home, playing soccer with some of his best friends including Robbie Rogers and Benny Feilhaber, and representing his country. In a way, it's a dream come true for the California kid.
"We all enjoy being with around each other, and we all enjoy competing with each other and trying to become better players," he said. "Obviously, at the end of it you get to put on the National Team jersey and play in front of your home crowd and hopefully get a win."
Kljestan, who followed in the soccer footsteps of his brother Gordon (a former Galaxy draft pick), is pleased with his performance so far and hopes to start against the Catrachos. He should be on the pitch at the opening whistle, likely beside his two close friends. While another hat trick is improbable, the 2008 MLS Best XI member wants to replicate the poise he had 12 months ago.
"I try to draw on the confidence that I had during that time," he said. "I think during the camp and going over to Celtic and coming back and playing in the game I felt very confident. I need to draw from that and remember what it felt like to play in a good game and have a good result, for myself and for the team."
After the match, Kljestan will focus on two tasks: a strong MLS season and making the U.S.'s World Cup squad. These two goals go hand in hand but even an impressive performance in the domestic league might not be enough to put the playmaking midfielder on to the 23-man American roster. He's currently behind Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Feilhaber, and Jose Francisco Torres and with Maurice Edu and Jermaine Jones possibly returning from injury before South Africa, finding a spot on the plane will be an admittedly difficult task.
"Right now I'm on the outside looking in and trying to battle my way back," the FIFA 2010 cover model said. "I think I have some good qualities to help out the team in many ways."
Twelve months ago, Kljestan showed that his talent can more than "help out;" it can dominate a game. But in the world of international soccer, once isn't enough. In 2010, he needs to do it all over again.
