Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #397: Luca de la Torre joins the pod

Episode Date: June 15, 2023

Luca de la Torre, Celta Vigo and USMNT midfielder, sits down with Sanjay Sujanthakumar at the team hotel in Vegas. They cover his comfort in a double pivot, what he's learned as an inside winger in La Liga, how he really feels about pro/rel, his dad finally trying to teach him how to speak Spanish as an adult, and much more.----Sign up for our Patreon and get at least one exclusive episode a week, plus access to the Discord server and a few other things: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Scuff podcast, where we talk about U.S. soccer. Bell's here, quickly introducing the episode. This is Luca Deloere's second appearance on the podcast. And I got to say, when it comes to national team members talking actual soccer, there's nobody more willing in the player pool. He's come off a personally successful season in the Liga, having started a lot of games, helped his side stay out of relegation, and eaten a lot of good seafood.

Plenty to talk about there. Thanks to Sanjay for his game. hustle. If you don't know, Mr. Sejanta Kumar, he's written for Yanks are coming and backheeled. He's done a few interviews for scuffed, including one-on-ones with Chris Richards and Naomi Germa. This week, Sanjay's in Las Vegas, and he tracked Luca down for a sit-down ahead of Thursday's Nations League semifinals with Mexico. Thanks also to the patrons on the Discord who helped us get ready for the interview. Much appreciated. Join them. Link is in the show notes. Enjoy the conversation. Sanjay here and I'm joined by U.S. men's national team in Salta Vigo, midfielder, Luca de Atore.

Luca, thanks for coming on the pot again. Thanks for having me. So let's get right to soccer. How comfortable are you in a double pivot? What do you like about it and what do you find challenging? Yeah, I played in a double pivot the first two years of my professional career in Holland with Heraclius. So it's pretty natural to me. I think, yeah, when I was playing, it was more because we didn't have so many technical players on the team.

So it was on me to kind of find a way to progress the ball. So I would come down and get it and work from there. So, I mean, I'm definitely comfortable playing there. How do you find the chemistry so far with guys like Weston and Eunice? While Tyler's out, there's been a lot of speculation that maybe the dope pivot's a solution. think things are coming along in terms of developing chemistry with them. Yeah, it's really good. You know, they're good players.

They both play at a high level, so, you know, we give each other to the ball in, in tough situations, and kind of move off each other. So it's good. So you play as a nominal wide midfielder for SELTA. Can you describe the role in that system, and how playing that way in that role has caused your game to evolve, your understanding of the game to evolve? Yeah, so I was playing kind of like,

left interior, I guess you would say, with the ball I was always stuck inside. And it was more kind of as a pocket player than I was earlier in my career. Like I said, like I was more of a double pivot. So the things I more added were running and behind. I kind of had to learn how to do that. And yeah, I did that to my game. And the other things are always. we're all pretty natural to me, kind of like receiving in the pocket and turning,

and then sometimes coming out to get the ball and help us keep it. So it ended up being a really natural position for me. How long do you think it really took you to get used to that role? When did it really start to click for you? Yeah, I kind of, you know, just learned it as I went along. I remember, so we switched coached. which was after the World Cup. And I came straight from the World Cup to,

I guess it was kind of like preseason again with Celtal. We had a few friendlies. And I spoke with the trainer and said, you know, I see you in this position. And so immediately I thought, okay, like I have to learn how to do this. And, yeah, it was pretty natural. Like I said, like the only small things I added

were like running behind. And I played in kind of a similar position. before for Fulham too. So, yeah. I'm a midfielder. I wouldn't say I'm a this or that. I'm a midfielder. Do you enjoy the running behind at this point,

or are you still just looking for the ball to feet, and it's just kind of like a thing you have to do? No, I like it, yeah. I had a good relationship with the left back I was playing with, so he knew kind of to look for me. Yeah. So you be bars on the last day of the season to ensure you'd stay up.

How was that day different from other games during the season at your own? stadium, what was that day like? Yeah, super intense. I mean, there must have been like 8,000 or 10,000 people in the street on the way to the stadium. You know, flares, everything.

Like, you could really feel the pressure from the city and the fans to win the game. And at the end of the day, we actually could have lost and still stayed up because teams underneath is lost. Right. But, yeah, it didn't feel like that at all. It was, yeah. Was that pressure building up throughout the week? could you feel the whole week, like when you were out and about in the city?

Yeah, definitely. I mean, the last few weeks were really hard there. Like, we were losing games and, you know, getting kind of closer and closer. Teams underneath us were winning. And, yeah, it came down to a final, you know. So how much competition is there for roster spots in season? Like other explicit discussions with the manager? Is it reflected in film grading sessions?

Are you guys breaking down film and evaluating? being evaluated throughout the season. How much you think you can really earn time while the season is going on, as opposed to preseason? I think a huge part of football is like taking your opportunities. When you get a chance, you really have to make a positive impact on the game or else it can be a while before your next chance. And then training is really important,

just being really good in training every day. Yeah, some things like, you know, the results of the team, etc., like the form of the guys you're playing against, like those are all factors. But really just focusing on making an impact, it's the most important thing. How much did things change at the club and for you when Kuday was sacked and then Corval was hired? Yeah, it was a really big change. You know, the team started playing completely differently. and there was more communication with the manager. And he gave me chances, so I really, I can't complain.

What are your thoughts on him leaving now, and what do you want in your next coach? Yeah, I mean, he was a really good coach. He trusted me a lot, so I guess it's sad to see him go, but I'm sure he'll do a good job where he's heading. as far as a new coach you know it's really not something I have any control over it's

I hope they find the best guy for the job and then we can start working in preseason and see what happens do you have preference in terms of system and you're not I mean I would say I'm probably I'm more useful to teams that want to have the ball

and want to control the game with the ball so any coach that likes to play with What's it like to play with Jagasas? He's obviously club legend. What's it like to play with someone who means that much to the club, especially if you just arrived there? Yeah, I always say it like in

interviews and stuff, but he was like, I think the first guy I've ever played with that thought like, yeah, this is world class, you know? Like I played with really good players for the national team and at Follum too, but yeah, it's like really like a different level. you know and it does things in training

sometimes where you go like oh like yeah wow you know anything in particular you remember that he did in training or you were just like wow this guy's this guy's different we played a friendly against

Brentford in like that kind of period after the World's Cup and I was like warming up on the sideline and I remember because it was like negative like five degrees Celsius and it was freezing

and he got the ball in the pocket and he turned and like without even looking he chipped the keeper from about a lot of like 35 yards out. And like, I remember just the feeling like, looking around the people. It was not a big.

Yeah, no, he's a good player, though. And he's old. I mean, he's like 35, 36, and he scored 12 goals this season. You know, it's crazy. So that word gets thrown around a lot, world-class, you know, and there's a big debate about, you know, how or when can the US produce world-class players? Do you think guys in this group have that potential?

Or, you know, just weigh in on that. class, what does that even mean? Yeah, I don't know if I'm the authority on what the definition of world classes. But, yeah, I mean, we have a lot of really good players. I think in general the team is still young. You know, guys, you know, reach their peaks when they're, what, like 28 or something? So everyone still has a few years at least before then. But I would say just playing at the highest level.

level and producing at the highest level for over a long period of time. Do people ever talk to you in public about soccer? Are you getting stopped in the street now in SELTA or even when you come home, Kelly? Yeah, SELTA is like when I arrived there, my agent told me like this is kind of like a fishbowl. Like it's a really small city that has one team and the people are all really, really into football. So, yeah, I live in the city and I get recognized all the time. Like, you know, whenever I go on a walk, when I go to dinner or whatever. And, I mean, all the people there in that part of the world, they're really, really nice.

They're all, like, you know, really friendly, you know, ask for a picture or whatever. So it's really nice, you know. Was there ever, like, a really negative reaction? I know, it was a tough season. Was there ever the people get around like that? I was leaving a restaurant with my girlfriend and some guy was walking by, and this was, I think, the week of the Barcelona game. And he said, like, in Spanish, like, you've never. I said something like, don't worry, we will.

And he said, like, just win and just kept walking. Like, like, you know. So how's your Spanish at this point? It's pretty good, yeah. I'm comfortable. I think I'm ready to do an interview in it. So yeah. All sá said, that, pronto.

Are you conversational with your dad at all? You try to be named now? Yeah, he's still not speaking to me in English a lot, actually. decided, yeah, that he was going to make up for not teaching me when I was a kid by trying to force me to speak now. What's Galicia like overall? How would you describe to someone who's never been there? Yeah, it's like, you know, people talk about going to visit Spain, they all go to the

like, I don't know, Majorca or Barcelona or whatever. Like the climate is different from that part. It's more like in the north, the northwest. west. So it rains a little bit more, like it's a bit more humid, but it's really beautiful there, like, you know, mountains and really nice beaches, and the food is really amazing. Like, the quality of life there is really great, but it's not really well known, I feel like, outside of Spain. Yeah, we'll get to the food in a second. We'll get to the pool of, uh, in terms of like your living situation, are you in a house or an apartment? What's your area?

Yeah, I've like an apartment. central like right in the city. Tell me about your game day prep. So any things that you've discovered help you focus in the minutes and hours before a match or even the day before? Yeah, I try to keep myself occupied I guess.

Like, you know, doing kind of pre-activation in the morning before, like, stretching and stuff like that. I'll usually sleep because we play a lot of late games. So I'll try to take really long nap. And then the other time, it's just all the other minutes they're just taken up by eating and meals and meetings and stuff like that.

Any superstitions? You're superstitious at all? Any... No, not really. I step on the foot with my... I step on the pitch with my left foot first, usually. But, yeah, nothing too crazy. Favorite coach, or piece of advice, it can be the other one, that shaped your play early on your playing career? I remember my first trainer for Heracles. It was a German guy named Frank Wormouth. So he started playing me.

I was doing well, and then I hit a point where I wasn't really improving. And he said something like, you know, you're good enough to play at the highest level. level, like, you know, you could play for this club or this club with what you do with the ball. Like, you know, you never lose the ball, you do these good things. And there's players for those clubs that do that for those clubs. But you don't play for those clubs. You play for Heraclus.

And here, I need you to score goals and have a sis. And that was kind of, you know, something I was trying to work on for a while since then. So tell us about Pulpa, tell us the story of how you came to eat so much of octopus, and yeah, what does it mean to you? Yeah, it was, it's kind of like, I guess it's like the national food of Belizea, kind of. It's one of the things that they're known for that. Started a game, one of the first starts I had, we won, and I made a post after it, just eating octopus. And then we won again a couple days later. And I did the same thing kind of as a joke.

And then it was, yeah, now I feel kind of pressure. I have to post it. About octopus. You hadn't tried it before, kidding a spin. No, I had it before. But they do it differently. And like, you know, it's like delicious. It's cooked in a different way, I guess.

Yeah, I've had it in a spoon before. Not in Gleasi, but it's really good. Um, Popo in Galicia or tacos in San Diego? Oof, Popo. Okay. Wow. Anything else about the food that you love there, besides octopus? Yeah, there's lots of other great food.

It's not just the octopus. Like all the seafood, shellfish, basically, it's all great. I love going out to dinner. So, back to footy, you made some comments about Pro Rel back in February. The Spanish press saying MLS is almost a different sport. than European soccer because of the lack of pro rel. Did you expect those comments to be interpreted that way? Did you expect a lot of attention with that?

Not really, no. I think what I was more trying to express was just, you know, the pressure that comes with it, like knowing even it's a game in the middle of the season or the beginning of the season, and you're playing someone that you're as good as, or it's around you on the table. You know, like, we have to win this.

Or, you know, later on, like, we're going to need these three points. And the consequences of getting relegated, there's nothing like it in the sport, right? It's, you know, most contracts, it'll be a 50% wage cut. It'll be, you know, you might have to find a new club. You know, if you're playing in the second division, are you going to call it the national team? Maybe, maybe not. So, when you have, like, that much incentive and, pressure to win, like this is directly affects my life, you know, whether or not we win or

lose this game. Like, of course, like, I'm going to do everything I have to do. Like, when I played at a full in the academy, they would always tell us, like, we're trying to prepare you for men's football, right? And, you know, you're 16 now or whatever, and you don't understand what it's like if you're playing in League One, and if you get relegated, you're not going to pay the mortgage or in your house, right? Like, if you're in a game like that, and the ball comes in the box, like you're going to put your head on it. You know, it doesn't matter what's in the way. So I'm not saying, like, you know, one system is better than the other.

I don't really know, you know. But there's a difference between, you know, playing a game to stay up, and there's a difference between playing a game to win a trophy or playing a preseason friendly. Like, those are all different feelings in the games, you know. And I think football is best, when you're playing for something.

A lot of the guys on the team have been through relegation scraps at this point. And obviously there's a huge perpetual debate amongst fans and the media, if and when there should be pro rel here. Do you guys talk about it? Do you care about that happening in this country? I mean, I'm not particularly attached to it happening or not happening. I think it could be really cool. Like maybe American fans would really take to it because they love sports and this would be like...

Be different. You know, it would be different, yeah. And I don't know. I feel like in Europe the clubs are more like their institutions, you know? Most of the clubs I've played for I've been around for like 100 years or more. So like there's that connection between the club and the fans. And it's more about the club and the fans than it is about the players that play for the club. And, you know, maybe like promotion and relegation,

it has kind of strengthens that bond between fans and club. I don't know that. So you mentioned your time at Fulham there. Why do you think a player who starts in the league couldn't get on the bench at Fulham? What's the biggest thing that's changed in your game or the circumstances? Yeah, I think when I was at Fulham, it was a club that was always trying to get promoted to the Premier League or avoid relegation. And it wasn't a club that was really interested in giving time for young players to become first-team players. Yeah, which is fine.

You know, that's what they were trying to do. But, I mean, since Fulham, I played two seasons in the Air DeBuSah. And I played for the national team. And, yeah, I mean, I am a completely different player now than I was three years ago. Yeah, how was the last year finding yourself with Zelda? How has that affected your, how does that boosted your confidence with the national team? Has it at all? Have you always been a super confident guy or his last team really?

No, I don't think so especially. Even when I was playing at Heraclis, I felt really comfortable here, like I was around my peers. Now that I'm playing for playing in the league, there's more of a feeling like, you know, if I'm doing well, if I'm doing better than other guys there, then I hope that I would get the not to start. But, yeah, let's say what it goes. What does playing against Mexico mean to you? Does it mean anything extra?

Now you grew up in San Diego, right? You played a lot of, Mexican football was a big influence in you, culturally. Does this game mean more to you? It's just, yeah, it's a massive game. I'm also playing for my first trophy as a player, which is really exciting. And yeah, I grew up on playing on teams where most of the kids were Mexican-American.

So that was a huge part of my development as a player was playing on those teams. So I'm really looking forward to it. You still in touch with any of them talking smack ahead of Thursday? No, not really, but no. In terms of the manager situation with the national team, Would you like to see Greg return, or do you think you should be at least considered for the job? Yeah, like I said, it's kind of similar to the self-a situation. Like, I don't really have control over it, and I don't think my opinion should really matter other way.

I mean, I think Greg did a really good job in terms of the environment he built around the group. The results were good, too. But, yeah, it's not my job to pick the next manager. I don't think it would be a bad thing, but I really think they need to find the best person possible. And if that's Greg, then it's Greg, then it's Greg. Do you have a preference stylistically, whether it's Greg or someone else, would you want a continuation and evolution of Greg style,

more possession-based game? What are you looking for? Just like with the club situation, what are you looking for with the national team? Is it the same thing? You want to play the same type of football, regardless of the environment? or do you think national team ball maybe should be different? Yeah, I don't know. It's a good question.

On one hand, you know, if you have a team that says, like, we're going to be compact and when you enter the block, we're going to foul you, you know, that can take you far in tournament football, like you'd be like in Morocco. But, you know, do we want to win that way or is it better to win and lose playing more kind of open attacking football? Yeah, I don't know.

I think just whoever it is, you know, they're going to pick the most qualified guy for the job. What are your thoughts on San Diego Gang and MLS team? Yeah, really exciting. I mean, they should have had one like, you know, 10 years ago. Like, I think it's, the culture there for soccer is huge, and it's really going to take off. Did you ever go to Tijuana games when you were younger?

Tijuana games? No, never. I didn't have anything to watch. when I was a kid like as far as a professional team in the city. And last question here. What were your go-to exhibits at the San Diego Zoo when you were a kid? Saw that you enjoyed visiting there. The zoo?

Younger. Yeah. Where did I say that? I don't remember that quote. All right, we'll cut that part out then. It was on U.S. soccer, like five things to know about it. Oh, yeah. Wow, they must have ran out of stuff.

No, I like the zoo, though. The big cats, the big cats are cool. like the Jaguars. If you watch long enough, they'll play kind of like tag or something where they'll sneak up at each other and jump.

That's pretty good. I'm going with my girlfriend in the summer, actually, I can't wait. Nice. Anything else you like to do off the page? Something that we don't. People might not know about you. Seems like your student of the game.

Is there anything outside of football that you're really into any of your parents are obviously very educated in terms of the sciences? Anything else you're interested in? Not really, no. I try to read a lot in my downtime. But other than that, yeah, it's mostly football stuff. So that's what I spoke to your head?

The Dark Forest by, I don't know how to say her name. It's a Chinese author. It's a really famous science fiction. Very cool. All right. Flukin, thanks so much for coming on the pod. Yeah, okay. Thank you.