Hadji Barry’s professional career got off to a fast start.
After being taken in the first round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Barry made a substitute appearance in last year’s season opener and notched his first assist after just 13 minutes on a pro pitch.
Things kept up for Barry throughout his first season. He scored four goals and two assists for OCB while splitting time with the First Team. During Jason Kreis’ first game in charge – a friendly match against Stoke City – Barry got a chance to impress his new manager, and he didn’t let it slip.
“I didn’t know much about him at all,” Kreis said at training Tuesday. “The first match that we played against Stoke City he played well, scored a goal and earned a starting position.”
Barry went on to start Kreis’ first MLS game with Orlando City, a 3-1 win over New England, and cracked the XI again the next week against Seattle.
But initial success can be difficult to sustain for rookies, and Barry’s production slipped after a while. He finished his first MLS season with four starts among eight appearances and the one assist.
It was a humble stat line for a player accustomed to success at the collegiate and USL levels. But playing for the B team isn’t his goal.
“I think he comes into the season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, something to prove,” Kreis said. “He worked really hard during the offseason and he’s done a great job during the preseason.”
His hard work has one objective.
“To be better than last year,” Barry responded bluntly when asked his goals for 2017. “I have more team goals, which everyone knows is to make the playoffs.”
An increased work rate can be expected from someone striving for more success. But it’s not that he wasn’t working hard before – things just settle down in Year 2.
“It’s different, I know what to expect now,” Barry said. “Last year I didn’t know what to expect. Now I can relax and just play the game that I love.”
