Q&A With Former Academy Player & Current Real Salt Lake Home Grown Player Signee

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Last week Major League Soccer held their annual SuperDraft. As some supporter groups cheered and others jeered when the picks came in, pundits of the draft noted that the lack of overall talent in the draft is signaling an important change on the American soccer front.

Carlos Salcedo – RSL-AZ – Class of 2012

A few years ago players who would have otherwise been drafted are now skipping the draft and signing Home Grown Player contracts. One of those players is former Grande Sports Academy defender Carlos Salcedo. After graduating from the Academy he joined Real Salt Lake during the 2012 summer. After playing with the RSL reserves in some matches Salcedo is looking to make a bigger impact this season as he and other players are all vying to make the RSL roster during this current preseason.

This is what coaches at the Academy have to say about Salcedo.

“Carlos is a leader and has been a leader since the day he got here.  He is very composed on the ball and he had to get mentality better which he did. He also raised his game and on the field and he raises the game of people around him.”

In his last season with the Academy (2011-2012) Carlos started in 26 out of 30 games and scored 4 goals.

Salcedo has returned back to the Academy this week with Real Salt Lake and Grande Sports Academy (GSA) had an opportunity to catch up with Salcedo for a Q & A:

GSA – What was the last year and a half like?

Salcedo - Well I think it was great. It helped me develop and to get to the next level, which is playing professionally. I want to thank all the coaching staff and Mr. Burks because they helped me to get to another level. It was a great if you want to be a soccer player to come to this complex. You come back from school and you play soccer and you can do your weightlifting after practice. It’s pretty much what every soccer player needs.

GSA – What made you come to the Academy in the first place?

Salcedo – The whole complex because once you get out from practice you get to work on your fitness. It’s like a professional team here. The weightlifting and the soccer fields are super nice compared to where I came come from. It’s pretty much all you need. The coaching staff is great with Martin, Freddy and John. They also bring good guest coaches in and that makes it really interesting. It’s such a great place to enjoy soccer and to play soccer.

GSA- You have returned back to the Academy. What was the thing you were most looking forward to?

Salcedo – I feel ready to take this chance and this opportunity to prove to the guys from the first team that there is good talent in the Academy. That is pretty much what I’m looking forward to and also getting some playing time with the pros.

GSA – Is it comforting coming back to a place you are already familiar with?

Salcedo – Yes, I think because I already love the weather and I feel home. This is my second home and I’m pretty sure I’m going to take advantage of that.