Following the news of FC Cincinnati acquiring Andrew Gutman on loan from Celtic FC earlier in the day, General Manager Gerard Nijkamp offered his first public comments of the move ahead of FCC’s game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.
“We were looking for the backline for an extra player and from the left side,” Nijkamp told reporters. “With (Greg) Garza injured, he’s coming back in a few weeks and we needed an extra player in the position.”
Gutman’s loan means he’ll be with the Orange and Blue for the remainder of this season and next. The left back could even play next Saturday when Cincinnati play at Columbus Crew SC in the first #HELLISREAL Derby in MLS play.
Nijkamp said FCC were interested in the 22-year-old back in January but were unable to seal a move. He’s a player the club kept on their radar and will soon be able to see him in an FC Cincinnati shirt.
“I saw him on video and I liked him a lot,” Nijkamp said of Gutman. “I think he will fit the way we play now and in the future. He’s a strong defender and aggressive in his one-on-ones.
“He likes to come up and overlap to go into the attacking third. That is what I want to see from the right and left fullback, so he fits our playing style.”
With Gutman fit from Celtic’s preseason activities, he has the ability to step right into the lineup. Should that happen – as soon as this weekend at Columbus – it should allow Mathieu Deplagne to switch to his natural right back position. Once Garza fully recovers from a calf injury that’s kept him out since May 19, Nijkamp said the left back spot will be open in a position battle.
“In a roster you need consistency,” he said. “That means you cannot only focus on the first 11, but you also need 11 for the bench … That means we’ve got an extra option for the left side. Because we wanted to have a profile on every position, on the left side it’s aggressively do well playing with space in the back and in attacking, making the overlap.
“Garza is the same profile as Andrew, so that’s a nice fit.”
Gutman is the second player FC Cincinnati have signed during the summer transfer window, which closes Aug. 7. The club signed center back Maikel van der Werff from Vitesse on July 2
Regarding the moves – acquiring a new starting center back and another left back – Nijkamp said it’s crucial FCC builds their backline before adding players further up the field.
“It’s like you have to build a house,” he said. “You start with the groundwork and the foundation and that is also something we are doing with this team … Starting in the foundation means starting in the back four and from that we will build to the top.”
The club is looking for attacking options, however.
Before the summer transfer window opened, Nijkamp said Cincinnati wanted depth at left back, on the wings and at forward. So far, the two moves have only been defensive-minded ones. When asked about it, the general manger said the club is working to make the right move to fill positions of need.
“Of course, we are also looking for an upgrade for up front, but they must also be available in the market. If not, then we’ll focus on the next window for the preseason for the next season.”
