HARRISON, N.J. — A defender with the spirit of a forward. If that phrase accurately describes Michael Amir Murillo and the way he has been playing as of late, it is because it is a reflection of his development.
Murillo has been arguably the most improved New York Red Bulls player this season, as he has done a stellar job of shutting down his flank while getting more heavily involved in the attack. The 22-year-old Panamanian international has made the right back spot his, earning eight starts to date across all competitions, and has fared well on both sides of the ball while playing at a higher level than he did in 2017.
Advertisement
A challenging requirement for fullbacks in the Red Bulls’ high press system is to relentlessly race up and down their sides of the field, but the part that comes easier and more natural to Murillo, despite playing across the back line during his professional career, is getting into the opponent’s half and receiving the ball. After all, he was not always a defender.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always been attack-minded because I used to play forward,” Murillo told The Athletic in Spanish. “I began playing as a forward, but there were times when my teammates didn’t show up to training or games so I had to fill their positions. I think my runs forward to join the attack is just a habit that characterizes me.”
The 6-foot Murillo has demonstrated his attacking qualities since initially arriving to New York last year on loan from Panamanian side San Francisco FC, which is where he began his career in 2014. The athletic youngster struggled initially, however, with both adjusting to life in the United States and playing for the Red Bulls.
Not speaking or understanding English was a main ingredient to his troubles, especially on the field.
“At first, it was really tough because I didn’t know or understand what the coaches were telling me,” said Murillo, who was a spot starter for New York last year. “If I don’t know what they want from me, I’m not going to know what I have to do on the field. That was very difficult at first, but with time and with help from my teammates and the entire coaching staff, I’ve learned more and now I have more confidence.”
It has shown thus far this season, as Murillo has looked much more comfortable within his tactical assignments on the field. He seems to having a better understanding of the balance of attacking and defending that his position requires, and is not just limiting himself to try and set up chances for others when he gets into the opposition’s final third.
Advertisement
In addition to providing overlapping runs that lead to crosses or inward passes for teammates to try and finish, Murillo has, by his choice and not by coaching design, become more of a scoring threat as he has shown no hesitation in pulling the trigger from distance. In fact, he led the Red Bulls in shots in their CONCACAF Champions League home leg vs. Chivas Guadalajara with four shots back on April 10 before bagging his first goal of the year earlier in a 3-1 home win against the Montreal Impact by getting into a very advanced position and pushing home a shot at the doorstep.
He was not always this engaged or vigorous, though.
“Amir is really gifted physically, tactically, technically, and since he’s been here we’ve seen the qualities, but he’s got a very tranquilo mode about him,” said Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch, referring to Murillo’s calm and laid-back demeanor. “We’ve tried to ramp it up, especially with what we do here. It’s a mentality thing, so we’re always trying to push his mentality to be the best that he can be, the best, most intense, most energetic, most concentrated version of himself.
“When he is that, he’s very, very good. Very good, and the ceiling is very high. Now, when he gets fatigued sometimes and he gets frustrated with himself or with anything else, then it can drop a little bit and the challenge for him is now, especially now leading up to the World Cup, how engaged and how sharp can he be in every way so that he gets better and better and he’s ready for some big challenges come the summer.”
Murillo is admittedly being fueled right now by the thought of competing in Russia this summer. Not only because he could have the chance to play in his first World Cup, but also in Panama’s. The Central American nation qualified for the tournament last fall for the first time, at the U.S.’s expense, and is gearing up to play in a group that includes Belgium, England, and Tunisia.
Advertisement
Playing against the talented likes of Eden Hazard and Danny Welbeck will be a step or two above what Murillo is used to, however, and he knows he has to continue to make improvements in his game in order to have a shot at performing well against them on the international stage and against other opponents in MLS.
“I’ve worked a lot on the defensive side of my game and I think it shows, but I’m still working hard to get better because I know I have some weaknesses in certain moments,” said Murillo. “I’d like to be better in 1-v-1 situations. Truthfully, sometimes I go up against tough opponents and I need to get better.”
Murillo should have plenty of opportunity to make continued strides on the defensive side of his game during the next few weeks, especially since the Red Bulls will face off against attackers like LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa of New York City FC, and Atlanta United’s Ezequiel Barco.
Those talented opponents and the Red Bulls’ upcoming matches should only provide Murillo the chance to further enhance the skills that he has gradually improved since he arrived in 2017. Yes, the same skills that have been on full display during the early parts of this year.
“I feel that I have grown physically and mentally as a player here,” said Murillo. “I came here to New York and my mentality changed as well as my physical abilities. I think that’s helped me from an individual standpoint to reach the higher level that I’m at now.”
(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)