All across the league, MLS teams are bolstering their midfield strength.
Steven Gerrard made his league debut Friday for the LA Galaxy, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 5-2 romp of San Jose. European legends Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard are set to see the field for New York FC in the coming weeks. Even as far back as last season, players like Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones made the jump to MLS.
While fans clamor to see those stars, Benny Feilhaber continues to quietly lockdown the Sporting Kansas City midfield. After another strong outing in which he had a hand in two goals, one has to wonder whether or not the league’s incoming talent fuels Feilhaber.
“I can’t speak for Benny, but if I was playing, there’s no doubt that it would fuel me,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said after his team’s 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday. “I would be all over it every game. I’d do everything I could to stop any guy who touched the ball, because you want to prove yourself against the best all the time and prove that you’re worth it as well.”
Feilhaber certainly has shown he is in the discussion as one of the top midfielders in MLS. But even with six goals and 10 assists on the season — four goals and five assists in his last eight matches — Feilhaber isn’t concerned with matching the fervor of other renowned midfielders across the league.
“I’m just not like that,” Feilhaber said. “I think it’s great that you bring in players like that for this league. Obviously Lampard and Gerrard are big-time players who have played in the English Premier League for so long. They are guys that everyone can relate to. It’s great for the league. The league is going to continue to build its core of players, which I think obviously is American players, but you’re always going to get those big-name guys who come over later in their careers. They’re guys who fans want to see and they’re going to fill seats.
“For me, I just want to play the way I’m playing because I love playing for this team and for these fans,” Feilhaber continued. “I think this year has been so much fun to play. There’s been a lot more good than bad, so I’ve enjoyed my time here. When you’re playing well, you’re having fun. That’s really what drives me.”
Feilhaber further explained his recent form has him feeling like a kid again, which is one way to frame his performance Saturday. His early left-footed effort on goal put Sporting KC up early. His half-field through ball to forward Dom Dwyer later in the first half secured three points and positioned himself second in the league in assists on the year.
“He’s just a quality player, Benny is,” Montreal Impact manager Frank Klopas said. “I’ve known him for a long time. It’s his decision-making, too, not only what he does with the ball. I think Peter has done a good job and has gotten the most out of him. And as a player, I think he’s pushing himself to reach the highest level that he can, so it’s great to have someone to contribute in both phases of the game.”
Klopas later added: “With Benny, I think if you give him an opportunity, he’ll do well. I’m sure any team would be happy to have him.”
Through 18 games, Feilhaber has already surpassed his goal and assist totals from last season and is on pace to break his personal best in minutes played in a season (2,607 — Feilhaber is at 1,598 currently). However, it’s his two-way mindset that has benefited Sporting KC most.
“He’s been one of our most consistent players this year,” Vermes said. “I think for him personally, it has so much to do with the fact that the majority of the time he’s playing on both sides of the ball very consistently. I think it’s changed his game, and I think people start to see the differences. It’s one thing if you’re only alive when you have the ball. It’s another thing when you don’t have the ball and you’re doing the other things to help the team.”
Despite his form over the past two seasons, Feilhaber has not been able to earn a call up to the U.S. Men’s National Team. Last Sunday at Sporting Park, USMNT manager Jürgen Klinsmann said there are “other ones ahead of him” — him being Feilhaber.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the 30-year-old midfielder from enjoying the game more than ever, all the while helping Sporting KC move up the table.
“I think the team right now is very unified. On the field, we know what everybody does well and we rely on each other to do each other’s jobs,” Feilhaber said. “There’s not too much thinking tactically, you’re able to kind of go out there, play your game and know that everybody behind you and front of you is doing their stuff. You play free.
“I think it wasn’t so much in the beginning of the season because we had so many new faces, so right now it’s been so much fun to play with these guys. The group of guys is fantastic. When you’re playing like this — the energy is there — it’s a lot of fun to play.”
