Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo has made an impressive start to the 2024 MLS season, scoring six goals in just four matches. Admitting he struggled for opportunities since joining MLS, he reflected on past challenges but emphasized the importance of preparation to seize moments when they arise. He regards Inter Miami's Luis Suarez as a major idol, having learned from not only him but other great strikers like Lewandowski and Haaland. Baribo is excited to face Suarez, hoping to apply his learned skills in capitalizing on scoring opportunities this weekend.
Reflecting on his struggles when first arriving in MLS, Baribo said: "I didn't play for 10 months, something like this - I played a little bit, like, five minutes here, 30 minutes there. You need consistency to get the confidence."
Baribo expressed, "I knew that I would get the chance. I didn't know when. I needed to prepare my mind. When you get your opportunity, you need to take it."
On facing Suarez, he stated, "I call it, 'cleaning the box'. This is your job, to take advantage of every mistake, every random ball. It's your job to score at the end."
Baribo mentioned studying Suarez, Lewandowski, and Haaland, saying, "I'm trying to see where the empty space is. It's not easy. It looks easy, but you need to make these runs all the time."
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