ST. PAUL, Minn. ā For a team on a two-match winning streak, Minnesota United FC go into a double game week with a lot of questions.
The Loons are in danger of having no strikers available for the their next game, Wednesday nightās visit to LAFC (10 pm ET | ESPN+ ā Full TV and streaming info), with Abu Danladi and Christian Ramirez out with injuries and Mason Toye unavailable due to a red-card suspension. And their trip west is quickly followed by a home match vs. San Jose on Saturday (2 pm ET | ESPN+ ā Full TV and streaming info).
One thing thatās not up for debate: Who will be starting in the No. 10 role. That will be Darwin Quintero.
The 30 year-old Colombian, Minnesotaās first Designated Player, has rapidly become the linchpin of the Loons offense.
āI think we know that if we can get him the ball in and around the final third he's got incredible vision, great first touch, makes things happen,ā said head coach Adrian Heath after Saturdayās 1-0 win over Vancouver.
Defensive midfielder Rasmus Schuller echoed his coachās words.
āHis individual qualities are so brilliant. For me and Ibson, it's often to search for him in between the opponentās lines,ā the Finnish international said, explaining how he and his central-midfield partner Ibson try to move the ball from midfield into attack through Quintero.
āAll our best combination play in the first half came through him,ā Heath said of Quintero. āHe was involved whether we were along the right or the left. He's been a terrific pickup.ā
Winger Miguel Ibarra has seen defenses forced to adapt to his new teammate, which creates more space for him and others in the attacking third.
āEverybody concentrates on him and makes me a little bit more open,ā said Ibarra, scorer of Saturdayās game-winner, āso it's great for him to give me that.ā
Ibarra has been a major beneficiary, notching a goal and assist in MNUFCās last two games. Quintero himself said heās very happy with his transition to Minnesota and his role in the attack.
āI see myself doing well. [Heath] is a coach who really likes the attacking side of the game because thatās how he played,ā said the Colombian, referring to Heathās playing career as a prolific striker for Englandās Everton FC. āSo I come in with the mentality that Iām going to learn a lot from him and hopefully score a lot of goals.ā
With two goals in four games, Quintero is already the joint leading scorer for Minnesota, a team who have struggled at times this season to create scoring opportunities from their attacking four. Itās fortunate for the Loons that Quintero has settled in so quickly, because the cast around him has been a revolving door.
In his four matches, Quintero has started alongside three different strikers and four different wingers, with two of the latter already out of the 2018 picture, Sam Nicholson through a trade to Colorado and Ethan Finlay through a season-ending knee injury.
Heath was circumspect when talking about how the teamās tactics will change for Wednesdayās match in LA, but hinted that the abundance of players Minnesota has at midfield might drive the changes the team will be forced to make. The team is dealing with 11 players with injuries, so Heath was realistic about what the gameday 18-man roster will look like against the expansion side.
āWe'll probably take every fit player to L.A.,ā he said.
One player certain to be on the plane to California? Darwin Quintero.