Posted on August 10, 2012
By Kristian R. Dyer
TropiGol.com Writer
UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – There is frustration, says Red Bulls designated player Rafa Marquez, at how this season has gone.
The second most expensive player on the New York roster — his salary is $4.6 million — has gone through a frustrating 2012 season that started with a league mandated suspension that carried over from last year and has seen injuries derail any on the field progress. Marquez has played just eight matches and 603 minutes this Major League Soccer season.
“Throughout my career I’ve had injuries. I guess it is part of the physical composure of my body but I’ve always been able to work past those and continue my successful career,” Marquez said on Thursday.
“It is frustrating but it something that I’ve learned to live with.”
The captain of the Mexican National Team last played on July 15 when he started a draw against Seattle but lasted only 21 minutes before limping off the field with a calf injury. Since then, Marquez has spent time rehabbing the injury, which has flared up several times this season. He returned to the field midweek and practiced fully with his teammates on Thursday.
Marquez has not been called up by Mexico for their upcoming friendly at Estadio Azteca against the United States.
“I feel good physically, next is the rhythm of the game. That needs to come little by little because I haven’t been playing,” Marquez said.
“I worked on the physical side of things the last two weeks very strongly, I feel I am going to be there where I need to be. It is the rhythm part of the game that is going to come with a little bit of time.”
Having put in his best performance of the season at the heart of the central defense in a June 24 win over D.C. United, Marquez said he is open to playing either in the midfield or along the backline, leaving the decision to coach Hans Backe.
It looks likely that Marquez will at least make the bench on Friday night against Houston.
“If he’s in [the game day roster], he will start on the bench,” Backe said.
Categories: Mexico, North America
Tags: Hans Backe, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, Rafa Marquez
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