The Angle Despite the Flu, Christian Ramirez Continues to Prove He Belongs in MLS by Brian Quarstad on 2 April 2017

Slumped in a locker room chair, Christian Ramirez fielded questions from reporters. The Loons’ target forward was coming down quickly after the high of an emphatic 4-2 victory over Real Salt Lake ��the team’s first MLS win. Despite having the flu, not sleeping much on Friday night, and then �throwing up from both areas of [his] body,� the soft-spoken Ramirez was even quieter than his normal self. But he was still smiling as he talked about his two goals and the victory.

“Adrian [Heath] told me before the game to make sure I tested [Nick] Rimando early,� said Ramirez. The Real Salt Lake goalkeeper had just gotten back to his team after an international call-up to the USMNT where he�never saw game action. The Minnesota forward said he tried to send in some early shots, one of them low to Rimando�s left that�the RSL keeper let slip under his hands before stopping it.

I�ve always carried a chip on my shoulder. I�ll continue to wear that on my sleeve, prove people wrong, and prove to myself that I belong at the top of that list of [MLS] strikers.

– Christian Ramirez

Despite the flu, Ramirez’s work rate was high throughout the game and pressed Rimando often. �I know if I can press up top, the guys will feed off that. It�s a big part of my game and I continue to work on that energy and spark,� explained Ramirez. �We work in practice on making it hard for the other team to play and that really led to a couple of goals tonight. We got in guys’ faces and made sure that when people come here it�s a tough place to play.�

Ramirez’s first goal game from some outstanding holdup play and then a layoff to Molino. The Loon forward spun off his defender and made a slicing run through the back line to be met with a perfect dissecting return pass from the Trinidadian. Ramirez lifted the ball over Rimando and into the net, showing off both his strong target player abilities and his finishing.

�As you guys know, I�m not your typical striker,� reflected Ramirez. “Everyone has their own style and I�m continuing to grow. If holding someone off like that didn�t show you that I�m working on my game, I�m not sure what will.�

Ramirez’ second goal was a gift from Rimando but wouldn�t have happened without his high field press. �I just thought it was a spinning, difficult ball that was going to his chest,� explained Ramirez. �I knew I had to put some sort of pressure on him.�

�As I said to Christian Ramirez, I’m a big believer in you get out of life what you put in,� said Coach Heath after the match. �The amount of work he’s put in, he deserves the goal he got when Rimando made a mistake. But without him challenging the keeper and running 30 yards to do that, he doesn’t get that opportunity.”

With four goals in five matches, Loons' Ramirez is a bright spot https://t.co/82kah5gwCb — Brian Quarstad (@IMSoccerNews) April 2, 2017

Coming into the season there were questions on whether Ramirez was good enough to bring his NASL goal-scoring form into MLS. With four goals in five games and sitting tied for the third-best goal scorer in the league, the striker is proving what he�s known all along. �I�ve always carried a chip on my shoulder. I�ll continue to wear that on my sleeve, prove people wrong and prove to myself that I belong at the top of that list of [MLS] strikers.”

Ramirez concluded, �Tonight things went my way. I love it when it goes my way.�

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Tags: Adrian Heath, Christian Ramirez, Minnesota United FC, Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake