OBETZ, Ohio – Columbus Crew SC head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter expected Emanuel Pogatetz to make an impact on the starting lineup when he signed the Austrian last September.
But in the months that followed, Pogatetz didn't make a single start, coming in for relief just twice as the season came to a close.
Since the beginning of the 2015 season, however, Pogatetz has been exactly what Berhalter promised. The 6-foot-3 inch center back has been the physical presence Crew SC needed in their backline, and gives Crew SC two of the most intimidating aerial presences in MLS along with forward Kei Kamara.
For Berhalter, Pogatetz’s play is no surprise.
“He had the determination,” Berhalter said. “I remember having a conversation with him as the season was coming close to an end. He said, ‘I’m here the whole offseason and I’m working. I’m working hard to get myself to where you want me to be.’ When you hear that dedication, with his track record, I knew he was going to be there.”
Now that investment is paying off as Crew SC get set to take on the San Jose Earthquakes on the road Saturday (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE) as one of the better defensive teams in the Eastern Conference, having allowed 10 goals in nine games.
“Emanuel has done a great job of getting to where he is today,” Berhalter said. “He’s a true professional, and he gives us this edge that’s important to have.”
Pogatetz admitted that the road to his current form was challenging. But with his fitness where it needs to be, he says he’s able to focus on having fun playing soccer, which shows up in his game.
“I came here on the back of doing basically nothing for three months because I didn’t have a team,” he said. “So I started from zero fitness, and it was difficult. So I think after six or seven weeks last year, I already felt better. But there weren’t many games to play, so I really concentrated in preseason on working on my fitness. I’m happy I could get through it without any injuries. I feel fit now and ready to focus on soccer.”
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Berhalter cited Tyson Wahl’s play as the reason the club had the luxury to wait for Pogatetz’s adaptation to MLS. With that security blanket, he said, Crew SC were able to give the Austrian the time he needed to adjust.
“It wasn’t easy for him last year, adapting to the league,” Berhalter said. “But we realize that it takes guys time to adapt, and we knew it was going to be a process for him. Fortunately, we were in a position where we could give him time.”
One player who was unable to adjust to Columbus was Hernan Grana, who recently parted ways with the club due to extreme homesickness.
Pogatetz said he understood why Grana had to leave given his lack of English skills and a family that hadn’t come to America with him, but added he's very happy in the city.
“For me, I had time when I joined at the end of last season to sort all those things out because I didn’t play many games,” he said. “It was good for me that it came early, so once the season started I had all my things settled, I had my apartment, I had all those things done so it allowed me to concentrate more on soccer. Now I’m settled in really well, and I’ve gotten to know Columbus.”
