Luis Gil says he will not bow to the pressures that come with being a young player with great potential.
At just 21, the Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder is preparing for his sixth season in MLS but insists he is not listening to targets and goals that the media are placing squarely on his shoulders.
USA U23 star Gil, who has played twice for Juergen Klinsmann's seniors, has over 100 MLS appearances to his name but he knows he still has plenty to learn about his trade.
"People like to hype players up. I don't let that hype stuff get to me. I'm still young," said Gil.
"Yeah, I've been in the league for five years now, but it's kind of growing pains sometimes. I'm still learning, still a young player on a veteran team with a core that's been together for a while.
"My time will come. It's just about patience."
However, tt is not only the press that have high hopes for Gil.
RSL technical director Craig Waibel is of the belief that the California native can become one of MLS' best.
"In my mind, there's very little reason to think he's not capable of becoming one of the best two-way midfielders that our league's ever had," Waibel said.
"The way he's built, his mentality, his honest work rate and his ability on the ball, I really do think he could become one of the top two or three two-way midfielders we've ever seen."
