How do the concepts of individual fundamentals help you improve player performance, both in your current environment and in the past?

Yeah, I first started exploring individual fundamentals in Houston when I was working there and directly after I finished the Master’s. To be honest, ever since, it’s been improving my understanding and the connection between all the fundamentals, giving more power to help the individual player. Now, in my day-to-day environment, it’s a key aspect of the process I use to really improve player performances.

So it’s a key aspect of your job, but how do the players receive that information? Are they already aware of those situations, or is it in an unconscious way?

I would say probably more in an unconscious way. Some speak about it without putting a name on it, like reducing the space for a center back, for example. But by teaching them the fundamentals, they’re able to recognize the situations. Sometimes, I have this “aha” moment where they say, “Right now, I can clearly understand the situation, and I have the tools to apply the optimal solution to solve those types of situations in the match.”Hey, I know the word you’re looking for: optimize solutions, you know. Because nobody understands what’s in. Yeah, I’m talking about the individual fundamentals. 

Do you think that individual performance or an individual tactical coach will be part of the future in global soccer or not?

It’s already happening now. Many coaches, for example, I believe Liverpool has a development coach. For the first part of the 2022 season, I was working with one of them to specifically help younger players in the first-team roster, utilizing the foundations of individual fundamentals to provide greater context and help players improve regardless of their position.

And how important are the technical aspects of the game?

For me, it’s everything because tactics give the keys to players to anticipate the game, read the game, and ultimately make decisions to solve problems in the match. The more tools and resources we can give them, the better they’ll be able to resolve situations on their own in the game.

How old were you when you came to MBP?

I first came to MBP when I was 25, in 2015.

What would be your advice for coaches in the U.S. who are around 24 or 25 years old?

For me, the biggest thing is to be driven by even more tactical knowledge. When I came over here in 2015, I was driven by the essence of what Barcelona was about as a team. At that moment, Pep Guardiola was coaching the team, and he kind of revolutionized the game. I followed my heart and had a lot of family support to do so.

What does it mean to be part of the MBP family?

It means connection, togetherness, family, support, and helping others. I feel like it’s just another day in 2015; the time doesn’t stop, and everyone continues growing and wanting to help others.

If you have to highlight a couple of things from your master’s program, where have you seen the biggest impact in your coaching career?

The master’s program helped give a structure to how I understood the game. It taught a logic of how to understand the team as a collective, answer in the game as a collective, and work backward from the team to the individual and then back the other way. It teaches a complete holistic methodology, which I think is super important for success in the game.

If you have three words to describe MBP, what would they be?

Passion, knowledge, and family.

How did the master’s program help you position yourself in the U.S. soccer environment?

It was a differentiating factor. It opened up new conversations because I was the first one from the U.S. to go. It allowed me to broaden my resources and knowledge. When you come back from the master’s, you’re going to be able to add that much more knowledge to the U.S. soccer system.

How do you see the future of U.S. soccer?

The biggest word is growing. Between now and the 2026 World Cup, we’ll see even more exponential growth and more opportunities for young coaches to make a difference.

What would you recommend to coaches in the U.S.?

Be driven by even more tactical knowledge. The game is growing, and there are more opportunities for young coaches to make a difference.

And do you see the influence of MBP in the soccer world?

Absolutely. MBP means passion, knowledge, and family, and it’s been a differentiating factor in my career.