FRISCO — Edwin Cerrillo is convinced his job is easy.
It may not look simple this weekend, as the FC Dallas midfielder looks to corral LAFC attackers like Carlos Vela, Gareth Bale and Cristian Arango. But when he's faced with a tough game, a demanding training session or an on-field setback, Cerrillo thinks about his parents.
His mom, who is on her feet all day cleaning houses. His dad, who pushes his body while working in construction. Those are the people who have it hard. They're the people whose sacrifices have allowed Cerrillo to become a professional player. and who helped him make the leap this season to become the anchor of FC Dallas' midfield. So when Cerrillo lost his starting job this season, he knew the only way to get it back was to put his head down and show Nico Estévez and the FCD coaching staff he wanted it back.
"I think the hard work comes from within. It’s part of how I grew up. Coming out here, this is my job and my parents have harder jobs for sure, so I want to give it my all every single day," he told The Striker. "Part of that is my defensive work, covering a lot of space, which has been pretty helpful to the team, and my endurance. That’s been a key thing for me."
Eating up space and running all game have been the highlights for Cerrillo, who was platooning with Facundo Quignon as the team's No. 6 for much of the season. After opening the season as the starter, good showings from Quignon — plus a rough run that saw Cerrillo give up a penalty against the Vancouver Whitecaps and score a late own goal in U.S. Open Cup play — meant there was a competition for the place.
But when Quignon suffered an inopportune adductor injury, Cerrillo knew he'd be seeing a steady diet of minutes and was determined to deliver for the club.
He took charge of the starting job and hasn't relinquished it, even with the Argentine fully fit. He's started eight straight matches dating back to a July 31 win over the LA Galaxy.
'He's been growing and progressing'
"I think Edwin, at a very important time for the team when we lost Facu to an injury, took on the responsibility really well," Estévez said. "I think he’s been growing and progressing little by little in this period.
"He brings us the physicality to cover a lot of ground, to help the center backs defensively, and after that while we’re asking him for more in attack, that he participate more and be aggressive going forward, he’s getting better there. He’s giving us good balance."
That is, undoubtedly, the next step for the 21-year-old. Especially in the modern game, it isn't enough to simply be a midfield stopper. Cerrillo is sure with his passes but rarely takes the risks needed to spark a quick attack going the other direction, something that earns him a fair amount of ribbing — playful and not — from teammates and the coaching staff.
'I love Edwin'
"I love Edwin," winger Paul Arriola asserted. "He’s a great player. Young, comes off as fearless in training, in games, someone that just gives his all. I enjoy playing with him.
"I think he can still get better at risking balls, passes," he added. "I get onto him because I’m usually the one that’s running in behind asking for the ball from him. He’s tried to improve that over the past couple weeks. I’m really happy for him and think he’s a great player now and for the future."
Cerrillo said he's working to make sure he can take the right risks, and sometimes sees Arriola making the right runs but isn't sure he should send the ball or not. "That’s some of the stuff I’ve been trying to improve and I’ve just got to make it happen in the game," Cerrillo noted.
It's normal for a young player to be worried about potentially giving the ball away and opting to instead play a safe pass, Estévez said. Still, in the manager's system, he's hoping for more of a push forward from Cerrillo as the season draws to a close.
The good news for Estévez is he knows he can count on Cerrillo to put in the effort to improve, more of the skills that Cerrillo attributes to his parents.
After every home match, the midfielder sees his family. They drive up to each game at Toyota Stadium from Waco, where Cerrillo is from and they still live. His mother makes him food and packs it before heading up the interstate on game day, with the family staying at Cerrillo's home in North Texas before heading back the next day. Soccer is in Cerrillo's blood. His dad played at the academy level in Mexico before immigrating to the United States. But even so, his parents still marvel at how he has turned the game into his occupation.
"After games, my parents get emotional, and they tell me they’re never going to stop being emotional based on how we grew up," he said. "It’s been a blessing, and that’s why I work my hardest — for them and everyone who supports me."