With the conclusion of the 2016 Liga MX Clausura, Real Salt Lake midfielder Sebastian Saucedo finished his first season on loan with Veracruz. Although the 19-year-old Park City native didn’t see the playing time he hoped for with the first team, he was able to learn plenty in his ever-evolving development process.
“It was more about maturing as a person. Becoming a better player. Learning from the two leagues. Figuring out where I can play and fit in with other players,” Saucedo said this week after training with Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs while he awaits the start of preseason for the 2016 Apertura.
Saucedo played in nine MLS matches for RSL in 2015, starting once while playing 168 regular season minutes. Across all competitions he logged 240 minutes with the first team while adding 586 minutes over seven matches with the USL’s Real Monarchs. The former RSL-Arizona Academy standout then went on loan to Veracruz to get some seasoning in another environment. In addition to his three substitute appearances in Liga MX play, he also played in five Copa MX matches, starting four times and scoring his first professional goal in helping Veracruz win the Copa MX title.
That competition was a key factor in Saucedo going on loan to Veracruz, but so was a different training atmosphere.
While Real Salt Lake training sessions tend to run about 90 minutes with players bouncing around from one section of focus to another, Veracruz instituted long, 3-4 hour long sessions that almost exclusively feature 11v11 action.
“I think there’s a lot of difference between the game and technical work and possession work and stuff like that,” Saucedo said. “(At RSL) it’s a lot more positional work and tactical stuff that will help you get better and develop and teamwork things. We never did that in Mexico. It was more 11v11 type of stuff.”
In addition to adjusting to a different training style, Saucedo also moved into a new position on the right wing, forcing him into different situations than he was accustomed to as a No. 10.
“It was tough at first because I didn’t know when I should go forward and when I should fall back and defend. It helped me realize what my position was and when I need to step and go,” he said.
Now back in Utah for a short time, he is excited to spend some time training with his old teammates with RSL and the Monarchs.
“I feel amazing. I’m really happy to be back. The environment is awesome,” he smiled. “It feels good to be home.”
In addition to Saucedo, three Monarchs players are also on loan. Goalkeeper Christian Herrera spent the Clausura with Pachuca, playing primarily with the reserves. Defender Jonny Caparelli and midfielder Edgar Duran, meanwhile, are both in the PDL with the Kitsap Pumas.
