GUADALAJARA, Mexico — After a successful 2010 season on loan with the Philadelphia Union, defender Michael Orozco Fiscal is enjoying his soccer back at second home San Luis Potosí and says he has returned a better player after his MLS experience.
“You learn a lot,” Orozco Fiscal told MLSsoccer.com on Saturday after his team, San Luis, drew 1-1 with Atlas. “MLS is a little bit more physical, you run a lot. I’ve improved in every aspect.”
The Orange County, Calif., native says he has settled back into life in the Primera División very smoothly after his spell north of the border.
“I’m happy to be back in San Luis,” explained the 25-year-old. “I have a lot of friends out here and it’s a small city, so I’m enjoying myself.”
Orozco Fiscal admitted to feeling a little tired in the last 10 minutes of the game Saturday following his journey to Belgium with the US national team last week. But he’s clearly enjoying being back in the US set-up and has been particularly impressed with coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
“Klinsmann is a great coach,” he said. “He has a lot of experience, he’s teaching us a lot and I’m happy to be there. I try to give everything I can to get that win we need.”
One thing the German icon has stressed, says Orozco Fiscal, is that the players should not slack off when they return to their clubs.
“[We’ve] got to keep on working, try to give that extra boost and not take it easy when we come back to our club teams,” he explained. “We’ve got to give a little bit more so we can be much better when we go to the national team. That’s the advice he gives everybody.”
Orozco Fiscal will get no rest midweek as San Luis travel to the Estadio Azteca to play Club América on Wednesday (9:30 pm ET, Galavisión).
Tom Marshall can be reached at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com or via Twitter: @mexicoworldcup
