When Wilman Conde suffered a severe ankle injury, when he followed surgery with arduous rehab and nearly a year of away from competitive soccer, many people wondered if he’d ever play again, and if he did would it be at his former lofty level.
He was one of them.
But the Red Bulls took a gamble – some say calculated, others say huge – on the big Colombian centerback. And after last weekend’s stellar debut – a dominant return to the field in a 4-1 home-opening rout of Colorado – the early returns are pretty good.
“I was a little afraid of how the performance would go. But from my teammates to the coaching staff, everybody has been unbelievably supportive of me coming back and onto the field,’’ Conde told the Post. “At the end of the day I was happy I was able to give back to the team that confidence and able to perform, and give that security or safety on the back line that it needs to have.
“The toughest part was definitely being off the field, from coming back after the surgery and having the uncertainty if you’re going to be able to come back, how you’re going to be able to come back. Just being on the sidelines and watching these guys practicing every day and playing, that was mentally the toughest part for me.’’
When Conde returned, he gave the Red Bulls far more than they had any reasonable right to expect. In his first competitive game in ten months, and first MLS tilt since 2010, he played the full 90 against the Rapids and contributed on both offense and defense. He anchored their best defensive performance of the year and assisted Thierry Henry on the team’s third goal.
“That is massive,’’ said coach Hans Backe. “That is absolutely even a bit surprising to me, being out ten months and then being so solid both defending and attacking, very precise in his passing game, incredibly strong defending, decent pace, too. If he can stay without injuries, he will just improve every game.’’
Conde set a high standard for himself during his four years in Chicago, when he was arguably as good as any centerback in MLS. After the ankle injury – and a coaching change at Atlas – limited him to just 13 games last season in Mexico, even the confident Conde had reason to worry if he could regain his old form.
“I felt a responsibility based on coming back to the United States and playing in MLS, and playing in New York, and a responsibility of showing the performance and the level I had left behind when I had left MLS from the Chicago Fire,’’ Conde told the Post.
“The words from Hans when I first spoke to him were very motivating for me to join this team, but it was more about that responsibility of delivering what people know I can deliver, and what I’ve shown to deliver. Through the second surgery when they removed the pins, it was a little bit of pressure: Can I come back, and how can I come back? But thank God things are working the right way.’’
When the Red Bulls sold 24-year-old U.S. National Team standout Tim Ream to Premier League side Bolton, GM Erik Soler had the unenviable task of finding a replacement. Conde was that man, and he now has the unenviable task of following a popular young American and living up to the sizeable investment – both allocation and salary – the team has made in him.
But if Conde can regain the form he displayed with the Fire, and more important if he can stay healthy, the Red Bulls will feel he’s well worth the price.
“Whenever I’ve seen him play in MLS in earlier years, he was just rock-solid, a very intelligent defender,’’ said GM Erik Soler, who said he wasn’t shocked at Conde’s lack of rust. “If there’s one position where your experience and brains and feel for the game helps you, it’s that position.
“If you’re an up-and-down midfielder it’s harder, because you need the engine so much. He was good in the games he played in the preseason also. He’s the kind of guy he comes in and wants to do well, and we knew exactly what we got when we picked him. Now it’s just down to keeping him on his feet and healthy.’’
The Red Bulls’ defensive failings have been well-documented, their 44 goals-allowed last year the most of any playoff team, and having coughed up a combined four goals in their first two games this year, both of which Conde missed. But they smothered Colorado 4-1 in his debut, with the Rapids’ lone tally lrgely a result of a Rafa Marquez giveaway.
“He’s very important. But not only on the defensive side, but also on the offensive. He put in a very solid performance on both sides,’’ Marquez said of Conde, who played the ball over the defense on a set play to set up Henry for a 3-0 lead.
“He’s been great. You would never know that the other day was his first full 90 minutes in I think a year. Just his presence back there, this big physical imposing guy,’’ said GK Ryan Meara. “He’s also great with his feet, helping us build out of the back, and find Thierry and Kenny (Cooper’s) feet up top and helps us keep the ball. He was great…and the most important thing is he recovered great as well.’’
How Conde recovers – and stays healthy – will go a long way toward determining what kind of the seasons the Red Bulls have.