This week's player spotlight is on Kaka, a man that needs little introduction. It's been smooth sailing for the Brazilian star through seven weeks of his first foray into North American football. TSN's Kristian Jack helps us find out just exactly where Kaka is at thus far.
Carlo Ancelotti called him ‘the most intelligent player’ he has ever worked with.
Massimiliano Allegri hailed him ‘a true champion, not just in technical terms but in work rate and effort’.
While the Italian managers were busy on Wednesday helping their sides into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League Kaka was celebrating a birthday in America for the first time.
Days in the sport’s premium competition are now just happy memories for the 33-year-old, after all the former World Player of the Year has other things on his mind these days with a primetime date on Sunday with Toronto FC at the forefront.
“This week will be very important for us,” said Kaka following Orlando’s 3-0 loss in Columbus. “It’s time to show what we can do at home.”
Its rare these days for Toronto FC’s star players to share the limelight with others ahead of nationally televised encounters but that will be the case on Sunday evening with a large spotlight shining brightly on the Brazilian star.
Kaka has been a marvellous signing so far for Major League Soccer, conducting himself with class both on and off the field, impressing everyone he comes into contact with.
Toronto FC defender Steven Caldwell told me: ”He is a great ambassador and a great person to come into our league, somebody every kid should look up to.”
Kaka has many outstanding attributes but how he has dealt with attention throughout his career has been exemplary. On and off the field.
He may wear number ten on his back but the former Milan and Real Madrid playmaker has never been a traditional number ten and this is no different in his debut season in Major League Soccer.
Kaka is not a player who slows the game down in possession. There has always been directness about his play and a move to MLS has seen the old bursts of speed, power and penetration return. He is comfortable dropping deep with his back to goal, holding off multiple opponents drawn into him, to open up more passing lanes with subtle touches but the moment the play develops Kaka bursts forward always looking to finish a play he often orchestrated.
Many of his teammates this season have used Kaka to get themselves out of trouble. The DP is always on the move and open to receiving the ball, often looking to quickly offload the ball immediately to set a teammate away into space.
Deployed as a number ten early this season by Orlando City SC boss Adrian Heath, Kaka’s versatility has allowed the identity of The Lions to change, making them less predictable.
Heath has always favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation and his side proved to be very successful playing this shape during their final years at the USL-PRO level. However, Heath has never had a player of Kaka’s talents available to him before and recognises that the former World Cup star can poise a large threat in the opposition’s penalty box as a goalscorer, not just as a playmaker.
It is this part of his game that often gets overlooked. Kaka has always been an excellent finisher and although only one of his three goals this season have come from open play it is clear more will come in the same way as that goal in Montreal, with a late run into the box, showing the kind of dynamism that was evident so often in Milan and missing in Madrid.
Despite winning just two of their opening seven games in MLS, Orlando have looked impressive playing a type of soccer which is easy on the eye that thrives in possession when triangles are created to build overloads.
They were at their best in a recent 2-0 win at Portland when Heath changed the system to a 4-3-3, which effectively played as a 4-3-2-1 with wide players Kaka and Kevin Molino cutting in and operating between the lines.
Both players have developed an excellent chemistry already this season and Kaka has received more passes from the Trinidad & Tobago man than any other teammate. In Portland Kaka received a season-high 63 passes - 16 from Molino alone – where his teammates did an exceptional job at creating passing lanes into Kaka that Portland had very little answer for.
This will be one of the biggest challenges for Toronto FC on Sunday. Orlando have struggled to create genuine scoring chances this season but whoever plays as their solo striker does a good job at forcing the opposing defenders deep which opens up space for Kaka to roam into.
It is in this area that Kaka shows outstanding horizontal movement, which forces the opposition’s midfield to be tactically disciplined. Rewards can come their way if they are able to create transitions, as Orlando can be vulnerable on the counter-attack, particularly down their left when an attack involving Kaka and Brek Shea breaks down.
“He works his way around the field and finds gaps. We need to be able to force them to play in areas that they don’t prefer to play in, keep lines compact and don’t give away space in behind us. If he gets on the ball and faces forward he can do some damage,” said Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney.
Heath is likely to change between the two systems regularly this season and it should come as no surprise if Kaka is moved back to a number ten role on Sunday to try and expose Toronto’s midfield but no matter where he is asked to play it is clear that everywhere Kaka goes people follow. Toronto FC’s players will be no different at the Citrus Bowl (7pm, TSN).
