[Ricochet]

Jonathan Spector living American soccer dream at Manchester United

Jonathan Spector is living the American soccer dream in England.

The 18-year old defender played 90 minutes Monday at Old Trafford for Manchester United against English Premier League rivals Everton, following a match Saturday at Blackburn Rovers and a midweek Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Bucharest.

The matches were his first competitive endeavors with the Man United first team, although he was on the bench for a first-team match last season and played extensively with the team during its preseason schedule, including a tour of the U.S. and a match at Soldier Field in his hometown of Chicago, against Bayern Munich.

Spector, a veteran of the Bradenton Residency program and the U17 National Team, as well as Sockers FC in Chicago, told TDS he only learned of his inclusion in the first 11 an hour before the match.

“I didn’t know if I’d be on the bench or what,” Spector said. “They were just going through the team talk and talking about what each player in the back four needed to do, and I heard them say my name ‘Jonathan you need to tuck in and on attack, we want you to overlap outside of (Cristiano) Ronaldo.’”

Spector admitted his heart skipped a beat, but he maintained concentration.

“I was thinking ‘I finally get my first start, I want to show everyone what I can do,’” he said. “But then I thought ‘I need to stay focused so I know what I have to do. Everything happened so fast it didn’t really have time to sink in until afterward.”

Ready for the challenge

Spector is soft-spoken and humble, but has a good degree of confidence in his playing ability.

“I always felt like I could play for the first team. I didn’t have any timetable for when it would be, although I think it happened sooner than everyone expected,” he said. “Everyone said I was way ahead of schedule but I when I heard that I always thought to myself that I wasn’t aware there was such a schedule. I just wanted to continue to work so that when the chance came I could do well.”

By all reviews in the UK press, Spector’s play has been up to par for one of the world’s most famous clubs. He is clearly enjoying the opportunity, but doesn’t seem to have changed in attitude from the hard-working defender who was playing in the Dallas Cup just 18 months ago.

“I’ve never been really overawed by any footballing situation to be honest,” he said of his adjustment to life in the spotlight. “I’m able to stay calm and relaxed and I don’t really get nervous before games. That’s just my temperament and I guess that’s very helpful.”

First time "a great feeling"

Not that he didn’t feel a rush the first time he ran out of the Old Trafford tunnel as part of the Man United starting 11.

“It was just a great feeling,” he said. The adrenaline starts to kick in as soon as you start to run out. It’s amazing how loud it is. But right after that,, you’re really just focused on the match.”

Spector said the Man United veterans, a collection of superstars from all over the world, have been supportive.

“They’ve all been very welcoming and helped me fit in,” he said. “It helps when you are playing with the best players in the world.”