Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi has opened for a difficult off-season 2020/2021 that made it possible for him to reach his best form. The player recently provided insight after another game winner for the second match in a row.
During Saturday’s 2-1 win over LAFC, Salloi played an integral role in Sporting Kansas City’s last minute comeback to win three more points and remain second in the Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. The player curled the game-winning shot in the 87th minute after a phenomenal assist by teammate Felope Hernandez. Salloi was also involved in the team’s first goal after sending the cross to Alan Pulido before making the equalizer in the 61st minute.
The home-grown player has scored seven goals and three assists in 12 appearances, which is behind Chicharito Hernandez in the race for the Golden Boot. In just the first months of the season, Salloi has already broken its records for 2019 and 2020.
Last season, Salloi managed a goal and an assist in 35 games and recorded just six shots over 165 minutes on the field. After Saturday’s match, the player gave insight into the big changes he made.
THE BOY IS GOOD!
DS20 with the side net for the cable! #SKCvLAFC | #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/MPT20Gtc7O
– Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) June 26, 2021
“At home it was a difficult time, because of course COVID, we were still in a lockdown, you could not really do anything,” Salloi said. “I went home and spent time with my family at home and went to training. Those were the two things you could do.
“I worked with Shane Tusup, he is also an Olympic coach and he helped me a lot [my] mentality and the educations he did as well. He taught me a lot of things, but I think it fits my game and I want to give him credit because it changed me a lot. I think my teammates saw it too. I feel that too, and I’m glad I worked with him. When I go home again, I do it again during the low season. ”
After scoring two goals and scoring an assist last weekend, the player was placed on the Major League Soccer’s Week 9 Team of the Week. As a result of his growing talent, MLS players are taking notice. Sporting Kansas City right-back Graham Zusi commented on his teammate’s growing influence and called him a ‘different person’.
“I think it starts with his mentality and how he came this pre-season,” said veteran right-back Graham Zusi. “He just seemed like another person. Everything about his game has been light years before I think where he was last year, and it starts with his mentality. He came in, he worked extremely hard, he pushed himself, both sides of the ball he has been very good to us.
“Every time he gets the ball, he seems to be dangerous and he places himself in really good places in and around the goal. And most importantly, he also puts it in the back of the net. I love what I see from Daniel and I do not see it ending soon this year. ”
