Alexander Callens and his great year in MLS, the league that feeds teams with World Cup intentions

MLS has seen the red and white colors shine through in its defining moments. In the last three years, a Peruvian has reached the definition of the title and this 2021 is not the exception with the presence of Alexander Callens with New York City in the definition against Portland, a club to which Andy Polo belongs, although the attacker did not play much of the season due to injury.

A) Yes, MLS has become an important showcase for the professional footballer, and although their level has been criticized, the American tournament and the players themselves are showing that they are competitive. For This 2021, Peru had six compatriots there: Pedro Gallese, Edison Flores, Yordy Reyna. Alexander Callens, Andy Polo and Marcos López.

“What the MLS and the soccer of Saudi Arabia, is that not necessarily your best level you get it in the best leagues. Pedro Gallese and André Carrillo could be in other leagues, but we have seen them on an important level. What about Pedro in the MLS It is not easy, there are important players there “Leao Butrón told us a few days ago about the year of the Peruvian national team’s goalkeeper.

Then, four of the six Peruvians who competed in the regular season were nominated in the initial list of the MLS Awards 2021: Gallese, Callens, López and Ruidíaz, although they were not among the finalists. Unfortunately, an injury also kept Flores away from the fields. In addition, the goalkeeper and the Peruvian 9 were called to the All Star Game, where they faced the best of the MX League, which had Juan Reynoso as coach and Pedro Aquino in the eleven.

“The level has been growing every year. Today’s player plays thinking about his future and even more so when the league maintains a good level. There are more than 20 Colombians and 40 Argentines “Alonso Contreras, a Peruvian reporter for the Area Sports Network, tells us, who has followed the contest since 2001, when he was trained by Pibe Valderrama himself, after his retirement at the Tampa Bay Mutiny.

In addition, it adds an extremely valuable piece of information. “”. For the September FIFA date, the English portal of “Diario AS” reports that a total of 74 players from 22 clubs were called by their national teams. and the same Peruvian team, which always usually has the aforementioned, with Gallese and Callens as the undisputed starters.

This data corroborates what was experienced three years ago, when MLS had 19 players from its league called to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Costa Rica (6), Panama (6), Mexico (3), Peru (2), Egypt and Sweden had players playing at that time in the United States.

“Today you find promising players like our compatriot Marcos López (22 years old), Ricardo Pepi (18), Reggi Cannon (23) and Bryan Reynolds (20). Little is being achieved the goal of forming a seedbed. Before you saw a league where we witnessed world idols, but already in the last phase of their career “Alonso himself tells us.

Today it’s time to see Alexander shine. “The Callens thing is wonderful. He is a professional, always taking care of himself physically and mentally, he is very sure of himself, he knows what he can give and what he still has to give. For example, he played a final and the next day he was in the gym recovering. He is a great defender and for me the best in Major League Soccer. It will be a very special moment to see him lift the MLS CUP ”, Alonso assures about the actions of the defender who also wears the Bicolor.

Callens has played 29 of the 37 games played by New York City in MLS, including the playoffs, with a balance of 13 wins, 10 draws and only 6 losses. For the first time, the New York team won the Eastern Conference title and this Saturday they will seek maximum glory in the American tournament.