PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter has been asked so many times about Diego Valeri, he must feel like a broken record sometimes in describing the playmaker’s ability.
Porter was asked once again about Valeri after he almost singlehandedly pushed Portland to a 3-0 win at home Saturday over the Vancouver Whitecaps with the opening goal on a brilliant volley, in addition to an assist on the second goal. And after initially providing simple praise, Porter opened up in his postgame comments.
What followed was an assessment that the Argentine wizard is playing the best soccer of his career.
“It was funny, I was walking through the locker room the other day when he was in there, and I said to him, ‘You know you are playing the best football of your career right now,’” Porter said. “I wanted to see what he would say, and he said, ‘I think I am.’”
And that’s saying something.
Not only was the 28-year-old Valeri the MLS Newcomer of the Year last season as one of just three players to record double-digit goals and assists totals, but he also came to MLS after a stellar career in Argentina, highlighted when he helped Lanus to their first Primera Division title in 2007. This year, Valeri is tied for second in the league with a career-high 14 assists, which is tied for the Timbers’ MLS franchise single-season record, and also has nine goals.
“I’m feeling really good,” Valeri said. “It’s a good age, too. I’m very mature, and I’m feeling really comfortable about Portland. It feels like my home. I’m happy and I’m enjoying soccer again.”
And he’s doing it at the right time for Portland, who with the win leapfrogged Vancouver in the Western Conference standings to grab a two-point lead on the fifth and final playoff spot with five regular-season games remaining. He has registered a goal or an assist in each of the last four regular-season matches and has tallied at least one point in nine of the last 12 games.
His MLS Goal of the Week nominee against the Whitecaps (video above), in which he picked a Jorge Villanfana cross out of the air right before it hit the ground in front of goal, was perhaps his finest strike in his nearly two years in the league.
“I just tried to get the goal because I didn’t have time to control it,” Valeri said of his goal. “Sometimes that ball goes to the fans. I was lucky.”
Whether he’s scoring or creating goals, his importance to the Timbers is obvious. And approaching another season of 30-plus games played, Valeri’s contributions are becoming just part of the Timbers landscape.
But does his brilliance still surprise even Porter?
“Yeah, he does,” Porter said. “He’s special.
“He’s been instrumental for us this year,” he continued. “Obviously, he tied the single-season assist record, took the first goal and that was what for me opened the game up. It was a great finish. And I don’t know if there is anything more I can say about him. He’s in my opinion one of the best players in the league, if not the best.”
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
