ST. PAUL -- Emanuel Reynoso and Franco Fragapane have a close relationship as Argentines playing for Minnesota United.
Reynoso signed a new three-year contract with the Loons last week, and Fragapane, who agreed to a four-year contract with MNUFC in May 2021, wants to play alongside his countryman for years to come.
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鈥淗opefully, I can join him, too,鈥� Fragapane said in Spanish through club translator Gabriela Lozada.
Fragapane told the Pioneer Press last week there was an offer for him to return to Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, the club of his youth, but the 29-year-old鈥檚 desire is to continue with MNUFC.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy here 鈥� my family, too,鈥� Fragapane added.
After the Loons鈥� 2-0 loss at San Jose on Saturday, Heath, in general, questioned why his players did not show a greater 鈥渁ttitude鈥� to lock in a MLS Cup Playoffs spot compared to the last-place Earthquakes.
鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 the makeup of some of the people we鈥檝e got,鈥� Heath said. 鈥淢aybe we have to look at that.鈥� He didn鈥檛 name specific players.
After Tuesday鈥檚 training session, Heath reiterated a big issue of late being 鈥渞eally poor鈥� energy levels, but broadened the scope. 鈥淎s a staff, we have to take responsibility for that,鈥� he said.
To make the playoffs, the Loons need a win or draw against Vancouver in the Decision Day finale at 4 p.m. Sunday at Allianz Field.
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Against San Jose, Fragapane was MNUFC鈥檚 one and only substitution, coming out in the 66th minute. In the 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 17, Fragapane was the first player taken out of the match, and he was visibly upset as he exited.
Fragapane is on a team-friendly guaranteed compensation of $257,000, per MLSPA, and has been one of the most productive Loons over his two seasons. He has six goals and three assists this season; he had five goals and nine assists a year ago. He can provide value.
His 0.28 goals per 90 minutes has been third-best among regulars in both seasons.
Bonding with teammates, community
Off the field, Fragapane has worked to assimilate, taking regular English classes and showing a softer side with his man of the match donations going to the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota. He has bonded with teammates over Yerba Mate, a traditional South American drink, hooking Ghanaian Abu Danladi, and with American D.J. Taylor has been buying packages of the caffeinated beverage.
But Fragapane has contributed to the Loons鈥� recent struggles: only one point netted from an available 18 in their current six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Player suspensions have been damaging not only during this lull but all season long.
Against FC Dallas on Sept. 9, Fragapane received a yellow card in the 20th minute, triggering a one-game suspension for card accumulation. Then he received a second yellow in the 69th minute, which compounded to a red, and Minnesota was down to 10 men when it needed a big comeback in a 3-0 loss.
The two suspensions cost Fragapane two key games 鈥� a 1-0 loss to Portland and a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC.
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鈥淭he South American player, as kids, are taught to play to win and maintain passion for football,鈥� Fragapane said about his style of play. 鈥淭he truth is I like it. 鈥� I live for this, and I leave it all for football that way.鈥�
Fragapane knows he has to try to self-govern his play at times but said that can be difficult.
鈥淭he truth is those are moments where one doesn鈥檛 think, when you have a lot of citations,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut after it happens to you, you think, 鈥業 won鈥檛 do it anymore.鈥� 鈥�
Heath knows it鈥檚 a balancing act. 鈥淚f you take that little bit of fire away from (Fragapane), it does dilute what he is as a player, and you can鈥檛 have that.鈥�
The Loons will have their 10th player suspended for yellow-card accumulation on Sunday. Starting midfielder Kevin Arriaga was booked in the 10th minute at San Jose; Heath thought it was a poor call from the referee, but Arriaga will still be suspended for Sunday.
Heath believes there have been too many bookings this year for avoidable things outside of the course of play. 鈥淭hat is something that we鈥檝e certainly addressed and will address more physically next year,鈥� Heath said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 keep getting penalized for non-football issues really.鈥�
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