At the halfway point of his 2007 Major League Soccer campaign, Sacha Kljestan was merely a solid contributor for Chivas USA. Since then, he has been nothing short of the club's most valuable player.
Through July 14, Kljestan had one goal and three assists as Chivas was 7-5-3 at the midway point. Now, Kljestan ranks atop the league's assists leaders and has already set Chivas USA's club record for assists in a season. Fueled by the second-year midfielder, Chivas have gone 6-1-2 since his midseason renaissance and are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.
Comfort and confidence have made all the difference as Kljestan has adapted well to his role as a right-sided midfielder.
"Lately I've been picking my times when to come in and kind of sneak in behind the midfielders who don't see me coming and I can get the ball in the midfield and go at the defense," Kljestan said. "It's just me getting used to and having more confidence of when to come inside and when to try to stay outside and go at a guy and work with my outside back, whether it's Lawson (Vaughn) or (Alex) Zotinca coming around me."
When Kljestan buried an early penalty kick in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Colorado, it was his fourth goal of the season and third since a 2-0 win at New York on July 26. Entering the week, Kljestan has four goals and nine assists, two assists shy of league-leader Steve Ralston of New England despite having missed five games to suspension and international duty.
Teammate Ante Razov said Kljestan has the makings of a star.
"From the game in New York, this whole team has kind of changed but he's come of age since then," Razov said. "I told him 'Listen, you could be a big player in this league.' He's kind of taken that. He's confident and confidence makes all the difference for any player."
Last season, Kljestan adapted well to professional soccer. After a standout career at Seton Hall, Chivas USA took the Huntington Beach native fifth overall in the 2006 SuperDraft. Kljestan was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year but lost out to teammate Jonathan Bornstein.
He played in the center of the midfield a year ago and finished his rookie campaign with seven assists, but he did not score a goal until the 2007 season opener. This season, though, Chivas USA coach Preki has lined Kljestan up on the right side as Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura have occupied spots in central midfield for most of the campaign.
Comfort on the right side and a better understanding of his overall role on the team has helped him develop.
"I've garnered a little bit more freedom lately because I've kind of become more of the creative player in the midfield and try to attack more," Kljestan said. "If I need to make a couple of runs through or pinch over more to the middle of the field to get the ball, Preki gives me the freedom to do that."
Success in games has been just part of his development, Preki said.
"He's been doing everything we've been asking for," Preki said. "He's growing up in terms of his mentality and working hard every day and ... he carries that into the game. He's a very talented player."
Having picked up his offensive production has helped ease some of the scoring burden from forwards Maykel Galindo and Razov. At the midway point, Galindo and Razov were 1-2 on the team in assists.
Having a midfield capable of consistently contributing offensively is vital if Chivas USA is to meet their lofty goals, and Kljestan said he intends to be a key part of that push.
"If we're going to be a team that wins the Western Conference and wants to win an MLS Cup, I need to be the guy who is kind of controlling the attack from the midfield," he said. "Obviously Galindo and Ante are a huge part of our offense and they control the attack from the front line but if we're going to do well, it's going to be on my shoulders to create a lot from the midfield."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
