TUCSON, Ariz. — Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan is coming off a career year, one which saw him lead Major League Soccer in tackles and duels won, play to a Best XI-caliber level and earn his first cap with the United States national team.
Roldan, still only 22, is entering his fourth professional season and is nowhere near satisfied.
“I want to solidify myself as a professional,” Roldan said humbly. “I don’t think I’ve solidified myself enough. I want to keep growing as a player and as a human being and step into the national team as a regular. It continues with the Sounders.”
The Pico Rivera, Calif., native rejoined the Sounders for their preseason trip to Arizona after spending the first three weeks of January at U.S. camp. Roldan and fellow Sounder Jordan Morris each started in a scoreless friendly draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina last Sunday and both are eager to take their national team experience with them as they gear up for CONCACAF Champions League and the start of the 2018 MLS regular season.
“El Salvador is a tough place to play,” Roldan said of Seattle’s upcoming tilt against Santa Tecla in the CCL. “I’ve been there a couple times, and it’s no joke. In terms of getting a result there and doing our thing at home, it’s vital to progress in the CCL. We’re in it to win it, we’re not in it to just get by.”
Roldan was happy to be back with his teammates, despite the short offseason, and was eager to meet some of the new faces. He called the acquisition of Costa Rican fullback Waylon Francis “an awesome pickup” and lauded the simplicity of Magnus Wolff Eikrem’s game.
“You can talk about guys like Handwalla [Bwana], who’s very technically gifted and knows the Sounders organization pretty well. It’s a fantastic group, and it makes for a competitive team. We’re excited to have that.”
Also competing in the midfield is Roldan’s younger brother, Alex, still an unsigned 2018 MLS SuperDraft selection out of Seattle University. Cristian is excited to have the opportunity to train alongside his brother as professionals on the same team, and he’s treating the situation like any big brother would.
“I’m his roommate,” Cristian said. “We’re able to talk about certain things, and if he has any questions, it’s fantastic that I’m there. On the field, we’re competitive guys. I don’t want to lose to Alex very often, so it makes for a really good dynamic.
“Alex being here as a rookie,” Cristian continued with a smile, “it’s great because I can bully him around a little bit and let him take the water bottles instead of me doing it.”
