Pavel Bucha is 'engine' for FC Cincinnati, even in loss

Speaking to the media earlier this week, FC Cincinnati general manager Chris Albright lauded Pavel Bucha, not MVP frontrunner Evander, as the team’s top player this season.

The man in charge of the Orange and Blue’s roster decisions commended Bucha’s on-ball quality and engine. Keeping his head down throughout the week, the midfielder approaches the game with simplicity while frequently making an impact.

“Evander is not going to like this, but I think Pavel has been our best player all year,” Albright said. “Obviously, Evander’s Evander (and) Kévin’s Kévin, so they’ll hopefully smile at that, but Pavel has been so consistent and such an important piece of what we do in the middle of the field.”

Irrespective of the statement, Bucha has regularly demonstrated why Albright delivered such high praise, even in FC Cincinnati’s Hell is Real 4-2 defeat to the Columbus Crew Saturday, July 12. 

Bucha scored a goal, created two chances and made eight passes into the final third. Meanwhile, defensively, he made six recoveries, one tackle and an interception. 

While his influence does not always fill up the stat sheet, Bucha regularly fuels FC Cincinnati, even in defeats. This season, his 1.74 chances created, 6.7 recoveries and 0.99 possession won in the final third per 90 minutes all rank in the top 15% of MLS players of his position, according to FotMob. 

Bucha has logged two goals and two assists in 20 appearances.

“He’s an engine in the midfield,” coach Pat Noonan said of Bucha. “(He) always puts in the work (and) always gives you everything he has. (He’s) just the guy that leads by example, can make plays going to goal and can make plays defensively.”

In the opening minute of Saturday's contest, Bucha came flying into the box before slotting home a cross from defender Lukas Engel to open the scoring for FC Cincinnati. Just about four minutes later, Evander followed up a deflected shot by defender Miles Robinson to put away the team’s second goal. 

Bucha’s goal was the fourth fastest in club history and the two scores were the Orange and Blue’s fastest two goals to open a match since they joined MLS, according to the club. 

“When I saw that Lukas running down the line, I almost knew he (was) gonna cut back that ball, and I just made sure that I (would) be there at that spot,” Bucha said. “And then that was just for me, clear situation, just hit the goal.”

The Crew spoiled the party at TQL Stadium by equalizing before halftime and piling in a pair of second half goals. Still, Bucha was one of FC Cincinnati’s few standouts in the match, making sound decisions, playing passes into the final third and recovering the ball.

Bucha, in his second season with the Orange and Blue, credited his consistent form to his growing comfortability in Cincinnati.

“Every day I feel better and better with the guys, the city, (and) the people, so I'm more comfortable with living here,”  he said. “That helps me perform constantly in a good way. And (I) just train hard and build that confidence during trainings and then put it into the matches.”

Defender Miles Robinson also praised Bucha's engine and consistency.

"You know what you're going to get with him, day in and day out, on and off the field," Robinson said. "He's had a great season so far with goals and defensive plays. He's a great player."

FC Cincinnati will play Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, July 16 before traveling to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, July 19. 

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pavel Bucha is 'engine' for FC Cincinnati