During the first week of training camp for Orlando City, there has been one constant theme — competition. From the meeting room to the practice field, new and veteran players alike are battling for their position on the team every second of every day.
Among them is left back Danilo Acosta on loan from Real Salt Lake. The 21-year-old has a wealth of experience on both the club and international level. In the past two seasons, Acosta logged 2,307 minutes across 29 matches for RSL. At the national level, Acosta has made 16 appearances for the United States U-20s. During that span, he won the 2017 CONCACAF U-20s Championship - scoring the game-winning penalty in the final against his home country of Honduras.
Acosta has embraced the daily competition and knows nothing will be handed to him.
“It’s day-by-day. It’s whatever you put on the field that’s what you’re going to get,” said Acosta. “At the end of the day, it’s how much you want it. If you want it really bad you have to work really hard for it, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s day-by-day because at the end of the day it’s all about competition, so I’m trying to do anything I possibly can to win this spot.”
Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi has slotted Acosta as a left back, but the versatile Honduran has also played as a center back and the defensive midfield. He’s happy to play wherever he’s needed.
“I’m just here to do anything that I can do for the team to help them out,” said Acosta. “Whatever possible position I can be, it can be on the left side, it can be at center back, whatever the coach wants me to play I’ll try my best.”
In terms of national team aspirations, Acosta knows it starts in the here and now.
“At the end of the day, the only way you can get that is by doing really good in your club. As long as I’m doing really good at my club, everything is going great, I’m doing good, the team is doing good, which is the most important one as far as the team goes and then the individual spot, so if that goes good and I get the call up I have to take advantage of it.”
With another week of tough sessions ahead, Acosta will have plenty of chances to earn his spot.
