What Pressures Will Cyle Larin Face as No. 1 Overall Pick in MLS?
The Major League Soccer SuperDraft may not receive as much attention in the United States as the drafts in the four major sports, but the top selection still faces a good amount of pressure.
Orlando City SC selected UConn forward Cyle Larin with the first overall pick in Thursday's SuperDraft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
Larin will go into a unique environment in Orlando thanks to the presence of former No. 1 pick Danny Mwanga, who inked a deal with the Lions this week. The Philadelphia Union picked Mwanga, now 23, with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, but he was traded in 2012 after two-and-a-half mediocre seasons. He has bounced around at a few different clubs since, never finding success at any of them.
“I think there is a lot of pressure. It’s tough," Mwanga said prior to Thursday's draft. "Sometimes as a player, you get too much of that into your head. You start doubting yourself a little bit. Going from the college level straight to the pros, being the No. 1 draft pick, people expect a lot from you."
The forward first joined Philadelphia before its expansion season, just like Larin will do with Orlando City in 2015.
The environment of an expansion club is a bit different compared to that of a club that has spent plenty of time in the league.
"He’s also going to an expansion team," Mwanga said. "You’re going to a club where you’re starting from ground zero. Whether you’re a rookie, a second-year player or anyone, it gives you a chance to go in to change everything."
Mwanga and Larin are expected to compete at some point for the same position in the Orlando City squad.
The two might not go head-to-head right away, but further down the road in 2015, they could be vying for a spot in the team alongside Bryan Rochez and Pedro Ribeiro.
The adjustment process into the league can also depend on the city in which the team plays. Andrew Wenger experienced a bit of a culture shock when the Montreal Impact selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2012.
"The language was definitely a bit different," Wenger told Bleacher Report. "The same jokes don’t come off the same way in French and English. Everyone in Montreal was great, though."
Regardless of the destination, the new additions to MLS are tasked with a challenge to stay busy after training is over each day.
"The largest adjustment I found was dealing with the downtime in the afternoon and evening in a responsible manner," Wenger said. "You are a professional player and need to be ready for training each day, but what they forget to tell you is how to spend your downtime effectively so it doesn’t take away from your on-field performance."
"So I would say find something that can occupy your time, whether it is playing video games, painting or another hobby, and get after it," Wenger continued. "The other change is you are entering the working world often in a new city, but that is very similar to any other college graduate."
Both Mwanga and Wenger admit there is a decent amount of pressure on the top pick in the draft.
"As the No. 1 pick, your face and actions aren’t plastered across SportsCenter each day like other U.S. sports, but within your market and the U.S. soccer market, everyone does keep an eye on you," Wenger said.
"Though how much of that added scrutiny you pay attention to is up to each player," the current Philadelphia Union midfielder added. "Your career is your career, and what you make of it is up to everyone individually."
"The No. 1 pick comes with a lot of pressure," Mwanga said. "I think people are watching you and expecting you to contribute right away. It’s up to the player to take charge and realize how big of an opportunity it is."
"It takes some players a short amount of time, it takes some players a lot of time [to adjust]," Mwanga said. "There is no doubt that there’s pressure being drafted No. 1. They’re expecting you to come in right away and start helping the team."
If Larin does not succeed right away, there is no reason for him to put his head down about the situation. Wenger is a good example of this, as he did not see much playing time in Montreal before his breakout season with the Union in 2014.
"Continue to do the things that made you the No. 1 pick, but find ways to add to your arsenal of talents on the field," Wenger suggested. "Keep a level head [off the field] and work your butt off.
"Finally, I would say find players on your team you respect and admire that have been in the league awhile and are winners and learn from them. Pay attention to the little things they do."
Some signs point to Larin having success right away in MLS, as he already earned a few call-ups on the international level with Canada, and in his two years at UConn, Larin scored 23 goals and recorded six assists in 39 games.
The entire draft experience can be a whirlwind process for any young player, but the true key to succeeding in any professional league is to follow advice from older players and come in willing to work for a spot in the team.
"There’s no doubt that the transition period is very important for a player coming from the college level," Mwanga said.
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All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
