GOAL talks to the Miami vice-captain about a hunt for silverware, mindfulness, and how to step up in the big moments.
Drake Callender has been there since the beginning. The Inter Miami goalkeeper has seen the struggles – and, most recently, triumphs – of his young franchise which launched in 2020.
He has survived the years of Eastern Conference irrelevance, caught glimpses of an emerging team. And, most recently, played a key role for one of the most star-laden sides to ever play in MLS.
But Miami is more than just Lionel Messi and Co., Callender claims. And this team is ready to show that. A week on after winning the Supporter's Shield thanks to a 3-2 victory over Columbus – a result Callender secured with a late penalty save – the goalkeeper has a brief moment to reflect. Miami has now clinched its second piece of silverware, the Supporter's Shield following last year's Leagues Cup.
"We're only five years into the franchise's history, so to have two trophies now, I think it's a pretty big accomplishment. It just validates the work that we were doing and how we're doing it, why we're doing it," Callender told GOAL.
Still, it's all about the big one. And with one more regular season game remaining, Miami is dreaming of the MLS Cup that many expected them to win. Callender will, presumably, be central to that effort, called upon to make big saves and serve as a leader on a team that will need to show that it can survive those brief moments when its eight-time Ballon d'Or Winning captain goes quiet. He's a veteran for a young franchise, and as he insists, every bit ready for the challenges that come with being Cup favorites.
GOAL talks to the Miami vice-captain about a hunt for silverware, mindfulness, and how to step up in the big moments, in its latest Wednesday conversation.
USA Today ImagesWhat does winning the Supporter's Shield mean for you, and for the club?
Callender: "I think the Supporter's Shield is definitely one of the more difficult trophies to win. You have, like, the best record throughout the regular season and in other leagues that's like winning the league.
So it's great to get that trophy. We're only five years into the franchise's history, so to have two trophies [the other being Leagues Cup] now, I think it's a pretty big accomplishment. It just validates the work that we were doing and how we're doing it, why we're doing it.
I think every pro athlete loves to play the game, but a big part of being a pro is how competitive you are in competition. Every team plays to win and every team plays to win trophies. So the fact that we got one this year is great. We're just going to keep that mentality going into playoffs."
AdvertisementGettyThis is trophy number two for Miami, and with you being a relatively young franchise as things go, do you think this means a little bit more to you guys?
"Yeah. It's an interesting, interesting kind of thing to think about. My first impression is that we've only been around for five years. We had only been around for four years at the time that we got our first trophy. But it really kind of depends on how you navigate the season as a team and what you're able to do, what you're capable of with the players that you have, and the belief you have in each other and the organization. And I think, whether the club's around for 20 years, 10 years, five years, 50 years, still extremely difficult to win a trophy.
I think we kind of figured out the formula fairly early. But I think it means a lot, because everybody contributed in their own unique way. It wasn't, a smooth sailing season. I mean, we performed well. We grinded out some results, even in the games we didn't win. We had eight ties, eight draws, those are still points. Of course, we have a high standard to win at this club. And even when that doesn't happen, a tie can almost feel like a loss, because we didn't win, but we still got a point.
It makes me think about how far we've come. Last year we had one of the worst finishes in league, we were close to the bottom of the table, but we still won Leagues Cup. So it's kind of like, some good, some bad. This year, we finished top of the table and got the trophy."
GettyYou’ve been around Inter Miami for a while now, how has the evolution of the team been for you? And how has that journey been personally?
"I think I'm the only remaining player from the original inaugural season roster. I started my pro career the same year that Miami joined the league. I feel like as I've grown and developed and gone through the phases of being a pro and been in different phases of being a number four, number three, a backup goalie, a starting goalie, playing in different competitions, it reflects how it takes time for a club to grow and develop and reach different landmarks, whether that's winning its first game, making it into playoffs, having a playoff run, winning its first trophy, just how players go through these phases in their career and as they grow and develop.
So many great people that I've met, great coaches, great staff, and I think there's kind of a central philosophy of just being a good person. I think helps you out on the field. When you have a good locker room, it helps out a lot when you're performing together.
I think the standards have gotten higher the last few years, and now we're at a standard where we are just competing really well and winning games."
Getty ImagesThere are certain individuals who come into a club and raise the level of everyone around them, shall we say… did you feel the team getting better and better? Even outside of your superstars?
"To be honest, I always felt like we played good soccer here. The results may not have shown it, but in three years we've had a lot of quality players come through. We've had a lot of really good teams, different kinds of teams, and I think the group that we have now is a good mix between younger players who are ambitious and want to get better and want to compete, and a bit more veteran players who are still ambitious, they also want to compete and win. So I think that's what we align on, is that we all want to compete together, win games.
I can't remember the last time we got shut out. That's good from a goalkeeping perspective, 1-0 wins are tough to come by in this league.
But yeah there's definitely been a progression year to year that I've had a unique perspective. I've been here for five years, and that's what I'm grateful for, because I've learned a lot. I've had so many different veteran players give me advice. I've captianed the team a few times, and find different ways to contribute.
Every player plays a role, whether you're a starting player, whether you're a substitute, whether you're rostered. It's not a one man show. That's what's unique about our team, is that we can, we can rotate. Sometimes I'm playing with a different backline almost every game."