Trinidad and Tobago Kevin Molino says playing with better quality players at Columbus Crew will help him raise his level of play as he eyes a successful career and a championship title with the 2020 Major League Soccer champions.

The 30-year-old midfielder signed with Columbus Crew for the 2021 season following a four-year stint with Minnesota United for whom he scored 21 goals in 67 appearances. He said, however, that any improvement on his part will also be dependent on him.

“It all depends on me. I am going to be putting in the work and I will have more quality players playing with so I am looking forward to the challenge,” he told Sportsmax.TV Friday.

He said the move all came down to the fact that he needed a new challenge after six seasons with Orlando City in the United Soccer League (USL) and the afore-mentioned Minnesota.

“It was the perfect time now to have a different challenge, different environment, new coach and change of scenery as we try to win a championship,” he said.

Meanwhile, Columbus Crew SC President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko believes Molino will bring important qualities to the team.

“Throughout his time in this league, Kevin Molino has been one of the most talented and explosive wingers in Major League Soccer, and he proved that not only throughout the 2020 regular season but most recently when it mattered most, in the playoffs, on a team that was minutes away from an MLS Cup final,” Bezbatchenko said.