Chivas USA further strengthened their defensive corps this week, acquiring defender Darío Delgado on loan from Costa Rican side Puntarenas F.C. on Tuesday. Delgado becomes the second Costa Rican defender to arrive at Chivas this season after the club signed compatriot Michael Umaña on March 11.
“He strengthens our back line,” Chivas USA head coach Martín Vásquez said of Delgado. “Seeing him play with the Costa Rican national team and his domestic club, we were very interested and it has finally become a reality.”
Before joining Chivas, Delgado had played his entire professional career for Puntarenas, making 61 appearances and scoring six goals. But though he may have spent his formative years in Costa Rica, Delgado is excited to join the Red-and-White.
“I know this team pretty well,” Delgado said. “We watch a lot of MLS games on TV back in Costa Rica. This is a great league to be a part of. I’m excited to be here, and hope that I can stay for a long time.”
Delgado, who has five caps for the Costa Rican national team, will likely join Umaña in the center of the Red-and-White defense. The two have great chemistry, even serving as roommates for a few national team games last year, and could be paired together on the team sheet as early as Saturday for the game against New York.
“Michael and I have a great relationship,” Delgado said. “I have played against him in domestic league games in Costa Rica. He’s been a good friend, a good roommate and a good professional all the way. We’re playing together in the back, so we’ll always be in constant communication.”
Delgado’s ability to play in central defense also offers Chivas some flexibility on the positioning of other players—most specifically, co-captain Jonathan Bornstein.
“We’re happy with [Delgado] because he’s going to give us the ability to use somebody like Jonny [Bornstein] on the left side or even push him a little forward,” Vásquez said. “That’s a big plus.”
Regardless of where Delgado ends up playing on the pitch, Chivas USA have acquired a dedicated player who will, no doubt, help the Red-and-White as they push for a fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
“I am the kind of player who will do whatever is necessarily to help the team,” Delgado said. “I work hard, am always thinking about my positioning on the field, and always communicate with my teammates. I want to continue to do those things so that I continue to get better as a player.”
