NEW YORK – Sebastian Velasquez uses the Spanish term maestro to speak about the players who have been influential on his career.
The 24-year-old midfielder has had two so far.
At Real Salt Lake, where he spent the first three years of his career, it was Javier Morales.
“He carried me under his wing and showed me what it was to be a professional,” Velasquez said. “There were a lot of things I had to learn. He’s been the guy I always looked up to as far as the league is concerned. The way he prepared me is going to help me a lot in the coming years.”
And now with New York City FC, it’s David Villa.
“Unbelievable person. All the success he’s had and all that he’s done, he’s still as humble as can be,” Velasquez said. “He’s the guy I go to if I have any problems or if I need help with anything. I can learn incredible amounts of football from him.”
NYCFC coach Jason Kreis said he’s seen a different player in Velasquez than the one he coached at RSL.
The biggest difference?
Consistency, which comes with experience and maturity.
“He was the type of player who can go into a game and be excellent and in the next game you could pretty much expect he was going to be poor,” Kreis said. “That’s what happens with young players and you know that as a coach.”
Velasquez didn’t get much playing time as the understudy to Morales at Real Salt Lake, starting just 15 games in his three years in Utah. But Kreis saw glimpses of what the Colombian-born midfielder could do in key situations.
“He scored a game-winning goal in a playoff scenario for Salt Lake against LA two years back, he’s missed a penalty in an MLS Cup final,” Kreis said. “He’s had enough positives and negatives in his career already that I think he’s a little [more] unfazed than he was when he was in Salt Lake.”
When Kreis traded for him in December, Velasquez had another boost of confidence.
“When we spoke, he wanted me to be here and he even traded for me, which I thought was a way he really wanted me to be part of this team and this project,” Velasquez said.
As was the case with Morales, Velasquez has taken to Villa, looking to learn as much as possible from Spain’s all-time leading scorer.
Velasquez is constantly around Villa, even on the plane, as witnessed by the now-infamous viral Instagram photo the Designated Player took of a sleeping Velasquez on the flight back from Orlando.
“We’re actually really good friends. He’s a guy who brings me sometimes to training or different places,” Velasquez said. “He threw me under the bus with that one, but it’s not going to stay like that. I told him he’s 1-0 up. I have to tie the game.”
Villa said that’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
“It’s difficult because I rarely sleep on the plane,” he said.
Velasquez came off the bench and performed well in NYCFC’s inaugural match, a 1-1 draw at Orlando City FC.
And on Sunday against New England, he was in the starting XI, helping NYCFC to their first-ever win in their first-ever home game and adding another boost to his growing confidence.
“When I saw my name on the list obviously I had to take advantage of those opportunities, do things as best as I can and help my team get a victory,” Velasquez said. “I’ve always worked as hard as I can for the person next to me. Everyone put in that work and thankfully we were able to get that result.”
