

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

January 28, 2015 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

It’s been quite a year for Toronto FC rookie Chris Mannella.



In addition to signing a professional contract with TFC last September, the 20 year old midfielder captained the TFC Academy to a League 1 Ontario championship and earned his first two caps with the Canadian Men’s National Team in January.



According to the Toronto, native, those rewards for his hard work as an on the rise Canadian player have only whetted his appetite for more success with both club and country.



“Two appearances (for Canada) isn’t enough,” Mannella told RedNation. “You always want more, especially in this business. You look at guys like Julian de Guzman – he has been representing Canada for a long time. He was helping me at the training camp (in January). I do want more and more and I will keep pushing myself until I get it.”



As one of the young players who impressed in Canada’s two recent friendlies against Iceland, Mannella will now be working towards earning further call-ups with both the Canadian Men’s National Team and Canada’s U23 Olympic Qualifying squad.



Interestingly, in addition to being a player who has earned his first cap with Canada prior to playing a game as a professional, the 20 year old midfielder is also now a rare full Canadian International that did not represent Canada with any of the youth national teams.



“You could say I’m (a bit of a late bloomer),” Mannella explained. “When I was 13, 14, 15 I was a smaller guy and I wasn’t as tall as I am now. I didn’t have the same physical presence even though I had all of the same technical ability that I do now.”



Asked about his goals for his first season as a professional player, Mannella admitted that he will have to take his work ethic to another level in order to earn playing time in a star-studded Toronto FC lineup. That said, he is also intent on making his mark with his hometown club sooner rather than later.



“I want to get minutes, to make my debut and contribute as much as I can to the team while working hard day in, day out,” Mannella said. “Obviously, making my debut would be fantastic for myself and my career. Hopefully that comes this year. I will be pushing the guys around me and making them sure that they are on their toes in training.”



Ultimately, the TFC Academy Graduate sees himself in a good place with respect to being in environment in which he can continue to develop his game, learn from being around top class players every day and earn his minutes under a Head Coach that he has already forged a positive relationship with.



“Greg (Vanney) and I spoke when he first joined the organization (as TFC’s assistant general manager and academy director) because he wanted to get to know all of the players,” the Canadian International explained. “I got to know him pretty well while I was with the academy. Obviously, when he was named the Head Coach, he gave me a shot. I’m very comfortable with him. He knows what I can offer and he just tries to get the best out of me every day. It was been a good transition for me.”



As a young central midfielder, Mannella now finds himself training day in, day out with a central midfielder who is one of the most accomplished players in U.S. history in Michael Bradley and he isn’t shy to admit that he is trying to take every opportunity he can to learn from the former A.S. Roma midfielder.



“Even in the months where I hadn’t signed but was training with the senior team, Michael was a guy that I looked up to because he knows the ins and outs of my position so well,” Mannella said. “It is good to learn from him, so of course I will shadow him.”



Whether he plays the majority of his minutes in 2015 in Major League Soccer or in USL Pro with Toronto FC II, the versatile former TFC Academy team captain will be focused on his development in his primary position.



“Defensive midfielder is my natural position,” Mannella said. “I can fill in other positions but Greg has told me that that is my position and that I have to learn the ins and outs of to become a true pro in that one position. I will be working on all my skills in that central midfield position.”



Realistically, it will be interesting to see where Mannella’s career takes him in the next few years. Ultimately, with his foot now in the door with both Canada and Toronto FC, the young midfielder has a prime opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished players in the North American soccer community. It is an opportunity that he is determined to take.



“These guys have been through it all,” Mannella said. “They have experience all the ups and the downs, including the Champions League and International football on the world stage. You have to take every bit of knowledge they have and just try to apply it yourself on and off the pitch. They are true professionals and that is what I want to be at the end of the day. I have to shadow them as much as possible and base myself on what they do.”