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If Jonathan Bornstein only scores the biggest goals, you think he’s going to lay an egg in an interview?
On the heels of his latest gigantic strike – the decisive goal in Queretaro’s 2-0 victory over Pachuca that allowed the Gallos Blancos to advance on aggregate to their first ever Liga MX final – he joined the MLSsoccer.com crew Tuesday on ExtraTime Radio and did not disappoint.
He spoke about his goal, overcoming a rash of injuries to win the left-back job at Queretaro, the struggles he endured when his father passed away last year and, of course, playing with the legendary Ronaldinho.
Perhaps some of his most poignant words came when speaking of how he paid tribute to his father, who lost an 18-month battle with cancer, in his goal celebration.
“Right as I saw the ball go into the net, he was the first person I thought of: just the struggles he went through and my family went through,” Bornstein said. “Everything that’s happened in the last few years, kind of like saying thanks to him for everything.”
Bornstein then said that after the initial celebration with his teammates, he found his girlfriend in the stands, who is seven-months pregnant with their first child, and motioned with his hands for “big belly.”
“First celebration was with my dad and kind of a thank-you and then with my girlfriend and kind of the future with our baby,” he said.
If the celebration had a little extra, it’s for good reason. Bornstein signed a one-year loan deal with Queretaro last summer after signing with Tigres in 2011 but seeing minimal playing time. Bornstein, of course, began his professional career with Chivas USA.
Bornstein's loan was a chance to finally see some consistent playing time, and he was all set to start the season as a starter, but then the injury bug hit: hamstring, foot and a broken nose.
This Clausura has been different, and after all the struggles, Bornstein is finally seeing just reward.
“Just haven’t looked back, and I’ve been really working hard and focusing on winning the starting spot, and it kind of just fell into place three months ago,” he said.
After the two-leg Liga MX final, to be played May 28 and 31, Bornstein’s contract with Tigres will be up, and he said he’s hoping to re-sign with Queretaro. But if that doesn’t work out, he said he’d always consider a return to MLS.
“I’ve always been interested in coming back to MLS,” he said.
Of course, as a current teammate of Ronaldinho, Bornstein was asked about what it’s like to play with the Brazilian legend. His response didn’t just touch on Ronaldinho’s “rock-star” status, as he put it, but to see what he says, you’ll just have to give it a listen.
Like we said, he doesn’t disappoint.
