Taty Castellanos has been hailed as “top class” by coach Ronny Deila after his stay in the NYCFC’s 2-0 win over Inter Miami.
With Heber suspended from September 2020 with an ACL injury, Castellanos has had to shoulder a much larger goal burden than he might have expected.
But this season alone, the Argentine has scored eight goals in 18 games in the MLS and set up another six – both teams’ tops.
His latest strikes came in a valuable 2-0 win over Inter Miami on Saturday leaving NYCFC second in the Eastern Conference. The first was a clinical head at the far post from a superb Maxi Moralez delivery, while doubling his result from the penalty spot just before half-time.
After the match, Deila Castellanos praised both on and off the field and praised the 22-year-old as “top class”.
“Off the pitch, he does everything right all the time, he’s in shape and he’s struggling,” Deila said of Castellanos (via MLSsoccer.com). “Right now he can do it alone, but we have more depth in the squad and we can play two forwards also when Talles [Magno] is more fit and Heber is back again. What Taty has done this year has been top notch. “
Deila also praised his striker’s willingness to “fight,” despite a hectic schedule that has seen the NYCFC play four games since early August alone.
“The pass from Maxi was superb and the finish, I do not have to say anything about it – it was top class”, he added. “He’s hard to play against, Taty, playing all the matches again and doing that feat, fighting like he did on Wednesday night is something I’m really impressed with. Good to get two more goals, now he has three in two games. We have a good striker. ”
This looks very simple, but it is definitely not. What pass from Maxi Moralez last night, he’s still a magician for #NYCFC ??
Good movement from Castellanos too … pic.twitter.com/kS8byT6W71
– Chris Smith ⚽✍️ (@ CJSmith91) August 15, 2021
Although he insisted that he was more focused on winning for his team, Castellanos himself was happy to be on the results list. He also told reporters that trust is something he does not lack.
“I am very happy for the victory above all and for the goals as well,” said Castellanos. “I’m always looking for goals, every game, and when it comes to confidence – I’m always confident. The coaching staff and everyone in the support team help a lot to ensure that we are the best. ”
Although well placed in the East, the NYCFC is facing a tough period of matches. First out is an away trip to Supporters’ Shield holder Philadelphia Union, before a Hudson River derby match at the Red Bull Arena and a visit by MLS leaders New England Revolution in late August.
