ASN: Aaronson adjusting to life in Salzburg and wanting to chase silverware

Brenden Aaronson is completely happy along with his first few video games with Crimson Bull Salzburg and is formidable firstly of the European-era of his profession. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the younger midfielder from New Jersey on his expectations and his preliminary impressions of his transfer to Austria. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 09, 2021
6:50 PM

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FOR THE SECOND TIME in a matter of months, Brenden Aaronson is chasing silverware. In a season the place he was named to the 2020 MLS Greatest XI and gained the Supporters Defend with the Philadelphia Union, Brenden Aaronson earned a switch to Crimson Bull Salzburg the place he’s aiming for an Austrian Bundesliga title.

Aaronson, 20, has been taking part in frequently with Crimson Bull Salzburg and on Wednesday the membership will look to maneuver again into the lead of the Austrian Bundesliga with a win over Austria Vienna. Expectations are excessive in Salzburg which gained the title final season the place it amassed a +76 objective differential in 32 video games whereas scoring 110 objectives. Whereas gamers come and go at Salzburg because the membership has been promoting prime expertise akin to Erling Haaland at an everyday foundation, one factor that has not modified as been the staff’s profitable nature.

As prime gamers like Haaland go, new gamers are able to step up. Aaronson is now a part of the following crop that’s anticipated to step up as the newest high-profile sale was attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to throughout the Crimson Bull empire to RB Leipzig. The Medford, New Jersey native is able to step up and contribute for an additional Austrian title and observe in an extended listing of prime younger gamers that come via the membership.

“That’s honestly the beauty of it, is everybody gets a chance and it’s just if you’re willing to take it or not,” Aaronson instructed ASN from Austria. “They put a lot of trust in their players. They don’t just scout players to just bring them in. They have plans for them. And I think that’s why they’ve been so successful in the past selling and then getting players. You understand that when Haaland leaves, they still have Patson Daka on the bench. He’s scoring 30 goals in season. So it’s not a coincidence. They just have a great set up.”

“I think that’s what will help me take that next step is just winning mentality that they have here,” Aaronson added. “You can tell with the way we train every single day. You can tell that it’s just a winning mentality here and I love that about the club. It comes with a lot of pressure. You’re expected to win every single game. If you don’t, it’s looked down upon. It’s a very tough league. It’s very aggressive, very physical. The technical side of things are very good here, too.”

At Salzburg, Aaronson performs below American supervisor Jesse Marsch who has managed the membership since 2019 and who used to handle the New York Crimson Bulls again in MLS. Throughout the varied groups throughout the Crimson Bull organizing, there’s a related model that entails direct play and intense-pressing to drive turnovers.

The system isn’t dramatically completely different than his time at Philadelphia below supervisor Jim Curtin. Underneath Marsch, Aaronson has been deployed as one of many No. 10 gamers in a dual-No.10 formation – though he provides the staff nonetheless often makes use of the diamond midfield formation which was additionally used lots with Philadelphia. Aaronson believes that the similarities below the managers has helped him along with his adjustment.

“I already kind of had this at the Union,” Aaronson defined. “This is kind of, not frantic, but pressuring and aggression and winning the ball high up the field. I kind of had that at the Union and I think that coming here was kind of an easier transition. I came from a club that really had kind of the same philosophy. So, it was easier for me. But for sure, it’s fits my style of play. I want to win the ball up the field and then go to goal right away. The attacking players are really, really good on this team. And I think the little 1-2’s and when we get up to the final third, I think it’s really special and I think that this team is just really good…The two No. 10s fits my playing style a lot, so I’m really happy with it. I can drift out wide but also get into the midfield. It’s how I play.”

Today Aaronson is studying to regulate not simply to a brand new staff on the sector, however to a brand new lifestyle off the sector in a brand new nation and a brand new tradition. He’s completely happy along with his progress of studying German and making associates along with his teammates. It has additionally been completely different for him to return house alone to an empty residence versus coming house along with his household.

However Aaronson is adjusting rapidly and a giant purpose has been his optimistic relationship with Marsch who has motivated him and defined what he expects as a coach whereas additionally serving to him off the sector.

“I think he is a great, great coach,” Aaronson mentioned of Marsch. “He has been fantastic for me these past three weeks, helping me to get into the team, introducing me to everybody and making me feel welcome. And he’s just been awesome on the football side or the soccer side of things, too, because he’s really taught me how to play different things about the game. I thought I was closing the ball down fast on the Union. Here I have to close things down even faster. Teaching me little things. I’m definitely growing as a soccer player. And he does that with a lot of guys. You see who he has worked with. It is exciting to work with him.”

“I think they’ve been really happy with me and they’ve been open with me,” he added. “Jesse and I have talked. He just said to keep my head up throughout this whole process, keep looking forward to the games and the trainings and don’t get down if I have a bad training. But they said that I’ve been doing great so far.”

When requested in regards to the distinction between what’s he has seen in Austria and the way it compares with what he skilled in MLS, he notes how aggressive the play is in Austria when groups play Salzburg however felt ready for it from his time with Philadelphia.

However Aaronson’s ties with Philadelphia stay robust. He’s nonetheless incessantly in touch with Mark McKenzie who was additionally named to the MLS Greatest XI final season with Philadelphia and is within the nationwide staff pool. Like Aaronson, McKenzie was bought after the season – to a Genk staff that is likely one of the greatest groups in Belgium.

On an much more private word, Aaronson can be preserving a detailed eye on Philadelphia this season as a result of along with his associates nonetheless on the staff, his younger brother Paxten Aaronson, has signed a homegrown take care of the Union and is trying to break into the primary staff in 2021. A extremely rated 2003-born playmaking midfielder, the youthful Aaronson holds long-term European ambitions however needs to first assist fill the void his brother left following the sale.

“He’s fully focused on Philadelphia,” the elder Aaronson support. “It’s his dream to get over here but first, he has to take everything one by one. I learned a good lesson at the Union and that was that you have to live every day in the moment. You can’t look to the future. Paxten is going to do that. I feel like he’s going to have a great first season. And I’m super excited to watch the games from over here. Hopefully I set up this whole VPN thing, so I’ll be watching the Union and MLS games. I want to be cheering on the Union for the rest of the time I am here.”

Along with his time at Salzburg, Aaronson hopes that 2021 can be a busy yr for him internationally because the U.S. nationwide staff embarks on a yr the place it’s going to participate within the remaining rounds of CONCACAF Nations League, the Gold Cup, and the beginning of World Cup qualifying. Aaronson can also be eligible for the U.S. U-23 staff which is able to take part in Olympic qualifying in March and doubtlessly the Olympics beginning on the finish of July.

“Playing for your national team is always on your mind,” Aaronson mentioned. “I feel that is an enormous honor. And for me, working as onerous as I can at Crimson Bull Salzburg and simply displaying folks day in and time out that I need to be with the nationwide staff. I am simply going to be affected person with it. After which when my time comes, hopefully it comes – we’ll see the place it goes from there… the Olympics for me, like that is a implausible factor to be part of. I might like to assist the USA in any approach that I can.”