Whitecaps’ Gauld coming into his own during breakout season

Vancouver Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld is aiming to construct on his personal momentum, in addition to his crew’s.

After a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, he formally turned the crew’s all-time chief in assists in Major League Soccer.

The Scottish attacking midfielder has 10 targets and 9 assists in his final 14 appearances, however is extra targeted on serving to the crew qualify for the playoffs.

He solely scored 4 targets in his first season in Canada, adopted by eight in 2022.

“It took me a long time to get going. Finally I got going and hopefully it stays that way until the end of the season,” Gauld stated.

“He’s one of the best players I’ve played with,” added defender, and Canadian worldwide, Sam Adekugbe. “He’s also a great guy.”

Gauld joined Vancouver in 2021, signing from Portuguese aspect Farense, after earlier stints at Dundee and Sporting CP.

“The last couple months have been better,” Gauld stated. “For myself, I’m not talking statistically, it’s helping the team and being effective.”

The British press used to check the slight Scotsman to Argentine celebrity Lionel Messi, a comparability Gauld got here to dislike because of the expectation it positioned on him as a youthful participant.

“I’ve never been a flashy kind of guy. I think that just comes from my upbringing,” he stated. “It’s a crew sport on the finish of the day. 

“What matters is the team and obviously it’s nice to get the goals and assists, but the most important thing is the team and that’s always what comes first to me.”

When requested about MVP aspirations, Gauld downplayed his work, including that he was extra targeted on the crew’s success.

“Just playing for the team. That’s what gets all of us going. To try and get points on the board. I’ve never really been one who cares about stats … as long as the team keeps winning,” he stated.

The 27-year-old has shaped a detailed reference to striker Brian White, who has scored a career-high 14 targets in all competitions this season.

“He’s my favourite player. I think we have a great connection on the field,” stated White, laughing as Gauld was ready to go after him in a media availability. “Any time you might have a man of that calibre that works that tough, I believe the fellows feed off it. 

“You see him running, pressing, running in behind and it makes you want to contribute to the team just as much.”

Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini echoed a part of White’s feedback.

“They’re both fantastic players, players that play for the team, players that do exactly what they do. So I think we need to high praise them,” he stated.

Sartini didn’t straight touch upon Gauld’s statistics this season, preferring to deal with his contribution to the crew as an entire, however did reward Gauld’s work off the ball.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t see in the stats. We have players with enough quality that if you don’t see in the stats, they pay back without the stats,” he stated.

The Whitecaps at present occupy fifth place within the Western Conference after back-to-back wins over Portland FC and Chicago.

Sartini says a goal for factors could possibly be set later, together with his crew — which has a 3-5-3 highway report — continues its highway journey, with 5 video games left earlier than the crew returns dwelling.

“If we do more wins on the road, the playoff spot is going to be there,” stated Sartini. “So, we have to maintain working at this level extraordinarily arduous. 

“There’s another five games in a row away before we come back to B.C. Place. But we need to make points.”