Adrian Heath cites Emmanuel Reynoso as key to success for Minnesota United

Minnesota United triumphed 3-1 over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday as goals from Robin Lod, Bakaye Dibassy and Abu Danladi led the Western Conference side three points. 

Though many expected frontman Emmanuel Reynoso to make the scoresheet, the Argentine played a supporting role with two assists. The playmaker proved himself as a diverse asset on the team, earning praise from head coach Adrian Heath. 

“I thought he was better tonight. I’m not saying it’s the reason why, but his family are here now. They arrived this week. I thought I just sensed him being a little bit brighter this week and himself and around the group. These are the little things that people don’t really know about. He’ll be delighted that his family is here,” Heath revealed. 

“He’s hopefully playing himself into some form because, as I’ve said all along, whatever our success will be, he will be in the focal piece of all that. We need him to be the ‘Reynoso’ we know and I thought there was signs of it this evening.”

Reynoso’s efforts, along with Lod, Bakaye and Dibassy, snapped Minnesota’s two game losing streak. The team saw a slow start to their 2022 Major League Soccer campaign, but the victory over the weekend boosted their place on the table to seventh with 11 points in seven matches. 

The head coach also credited Lod for the team’s turnaround after he managed one goal and one assist during the triumph, his first goal since opening weekend against the Philadelphia Union. 

“He’s deceptively strong, people don’t think that of him,” Heath said. 

“Once he gets in front, and he’s got a really good first touch. He gave us a starting point tonight when he got up there. I’m pleased with him because he is gradually getting fitter and fitter. He’s getting back to what he was, what we know he can be.”

Though Minnesota United faces a long uphill battle, the team’s efforts over the weekend provided the necessary confidence boost to turn the season around.