“The last six or seven months have been crazy,” Andrew Gutman said with a sense of relief. “I thought I was going to be in Charlotte for a while; I thought I was going to in Scotland for a while. Finally, to get this deal done, I’m really excited to be here.”
Back in December, Gutman was a senior at Indiana University playing in the 2018 NCAA College Cup. Still in school, that was his focus – and probably the last time things were clear until Saturday.
In the next month, he was named the best college soccer player in the country, declined an MLS Homegrown deal with the Chicago Fire, signed with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic and then saw Celtic’s loan move to Nashville SC come apart after it was announced.
Eventually, Celtic sent him on loan to the Charlotte Independence in the USL Championship.
But then Celtic recalled his loan, had him play in preseason friendly matches and just approved a loan signing deal with FC Cincinnati that will see Gutman play for the Orange and Blue through the 2020 season.
In short, after months of movement and uncertainty, he finally has a new home and stability.
“Mentally, this can make me relax a little bit,” he said. “I think it will elevate my game knowing I have a long-term home.”
Gutman’s arrival will elevate FC Cincinnati, too.
Cincinnati haven’t fielded a natural left back since Greg Garza was injured May 19 in Orlando. In essence, they’ve had to tinker their backline, with Mathieu Deplagne and Justin Hoyte having to play on the left when they’re naturally right backs.
As recently as Friday, Garza was practicing and recovering from a calf injury, but he’s still not cleared to play. Until then, the tinkering continues
But having Gutman available changes things. For Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet, this can only strengthen the team. Despite the left back only being 22, he’s a well-known talent in American soccer and was named to the 40-man provisional U.S. Men’s National Team roster ahead of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.
If FCC were playing without two left backs, they’re close to having two USMNT-quality ones available for selection, which is an option unparalleled in MLS.
“I’m really excited to learn under Greg,” Gutman said of Garza. “I know he’s been a long-term left back for the national team, and he’s played for some good clubs. I’m just going to be hanging around him and trying to learn everything I can from him.”
The biggest thing for Gutman now is to utilize something the last few months have lacked: consistency.
He’s in one place with one club for a long-term future, and is the type of player who can excel in FC Cincinnati possession dominant style that builds from the back.
“Fans will like to see that I get forward,” Gutman said. “I’m very direct. I like to play with the ball at my feet, just like the style of playing out of the back here.”
