EL CAJON, Calif. — San Diego FC star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s playing career has been a rough-and-routinely-tumble series of absorbing fouls.

Opponents tackle him to slow his dangerous passing gear. They bump him out of exasperation because of his elite ball-handling.

They do what they can, when they can, to get him off his game.

The face of the expansion MLS franchise is bracing for the wide array of contact to come. He’s lived it often since first turning professional, leading Liga MX — the top Mexican league — in fouls drawn for multiple seasons.

“It’s normal,” Lozano said through an interpreter following Friday’s training session at the rookie club’s performance center. “… Having the qualities that I have, being a creative and attacking player, there’s always the possibility that you’re going to get fouled a lot.

“I’m expecting a physical game here in the MLS and that’s just part of it.”

There’s no doubt opponents will poke, prod and pester to test Lozano and his smaller frame at 5-9 and 155-ish.

It’s also his fancy footwork opponents hope to short-circuit.

Lozano, 29, has piled up 76 goals during his time with PSV Eindhoven of Eredivisie and Napoli in Serie A, mountaintop leagues in the Netherlands and Italy. He’s collected 70 caps for the Mexican national team with 18 goals and 12 assists, including seven appearances for his country during the 2018 and ’22 World Cups.

In terms of physicality and running into and out of trouble, he’s seen almost all the sport can throw at him.

“It has to do with how shifty he is, how crafty he is with the ball,” San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas said. “He’s so quick and he’s got such tight control of the ball that he’s able to get really close to defenders before making his final decision.

“When that happens, you have a better chance of getting past him, but you also have a bigger chance of them fouling you.”

Lozano is fully aware of what rests on his shoulders and, most importantly, those multi-million-dollar legs expected to earn around $6 million in base salary per season. He became the team’s first designated player, which is soccer talk for someone who is paid in excess of the league’s salary cap.

How and how much he delivers will be partially determined by the way he deals with the physicality coming his way. That will be a critical piece of his face-of-the-franchise lift.

“The truth is, it’s a big responsibility for me to have that,” he said. “It’s a big responsibility. I’m going to take it in the best way possible. I’ve very thankful for that, you know, San Diego gave me this opportunity and now I just to work hard and stay on that right path.”

Lozano’s coach said he brings unique skills to deal with the pressure, both physically and mentally.

“He’s really good running off the ball,” Varas said. “So getting the ball behind, arriving in the box late. He’s also very good at combinations. You’ll see him drive inside and look for people to do give-and-gos to get the ball and run again.

“Ultimately, drawing fouls is actually a bit of a strength because the more free kicks you get in and around the opponent’s box, it’s an immediate shot or cross on goal.”

It’s not if the fouls come, but when and how many.

Varas explained a factor in that will be fueling the confidence of Lozano that San Diego FC will not be a one-man show. They not only are building support around Lozano, but creating a dialogue and philosophy.

“It’s our job to make sure he knows that it’s not all on him,” Varas said. “He’s a player who’s going to play great for us and he feels that responsibility. We’ve already talked to him and the team (about it).

“That left winger position is going to have the freedom to be out wide to get the ball, turn and run at people. How do we clear some space so we can get him the ball easier? He also has the freedom to come inside and play between the center back and fullback.”

So far so good, Lozano said.

“There’s a lot of players with a lot of quality,” he said. “The coaching mentality and style of play is amazing. I feel great and think we’re going in the right direction.”

It’s not solely about what Lozano can do in a silo, but how the interactions with teammates fuel the script.

The confidence of the club is clear.

“His play on the field speaks for itself,” said Tyler Heaps, the club’s sporting director. “We have high expectations for him. I think he’s ready to embrace those expectations.

“… I think that the important thing, making sure that he comes here and feels comfortable with his family and settles in. We want him to hit the ground running and hopefully he takes the league by storm.”

The storm is sure to include some bumpy weather.

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