Nick Hagglund burst onto the scene during his rookie season.
The 10th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft started 23 games in his first year, posting two goals and three assists in 2,088 minutes.
“2014 was great,” said Hagglund following training in Orlando on Monday. ”I was excited to prove I was a Major League Soccer caliber player.”
Hagglund was primed to take the next step professionally last season, but a tough sophomore campaign was derailed by an appendectomy in July. The Cincinnati native would miss four games and never got back into the mix at centre-back. In total, Hagglund started only eight games and featured in 12.
“The season didn’t go the way I wanted,” he candidly stated.
Hagglund, 23, has put last season’s troubling campaign behind him, securing a fresh start in 2016.
“It’s exciting to have guys back from last year and the new players that came in have been great,” he said. “This year we feel more like a team. Last year we had a lot of pieces and now we’re solidifying that and gelling well."
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The Xavier University alum is one of a handful of players that have remained with the Reds throughout Greg Vanney’s head coaching tenure. Shape and structure has been the focus during the preseason, first in Southern California and now in Orlando. In that way, Hagglund has recognized a change in the coaching staff’s approach.
“The attention to defensive shape as a team and as a unit [has changed],” he said. “Last year we had a lot of offensive pieces and it was easy to focus on that. This preseason the coaches have done a really good job making sure we play as a unit and not just as a back four or a midfield, but a whole team from back to front. They’ve been really hammering that point home.”
Getting back into the starting lineup will be difficult for Hagglund. TFC aren’t short on depth at centre-back, with Drew Moor, Damien Perquis, Eriq Zavaleta, Josh Williams, Clement Simonin and Hagglund comprising a formidable crew.
“It’s going to be competitive every day,” said Hagglund. “This isn’t a team of just 11 guys. We have a bunch of players that are going to contribute at some point during the season.”
“If you come in and are given a spot you’re going to get complacent. When you come in every day and know you have to be sharp it makes a difference. Coming out of the preseason we’re going to have two centre-backs that will be battle tested and earned their spot for opening day.”
Team success is the ultimate goal, but like his teammates, Hagglund has some personal milestones he would like to achieve in 2016.
“I want to get back to a spot where mentally I’m strong and physically feeling great,” he said. “I would love to get some starting minutes, be part of some wins and see this team make the playoffs and more."
Join MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and the rest of Toronto FC at BMO Field this season. 2016 Toronto FC Season Seats are on sale from $608 and up. In addition to Toronto FC Season Tickets, the Reds are currently on sale with TFC II Season Seats at $75.00 for TFC Season Seat Holders & $120.00 for non-TFC season seat holders. For More information head to TorontoFC.ca/tickets
