The smiles spoke volumes at Real Salt Lake’s first training session of the 2016 season at the remote fields of the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, California, on Sunday.
From the coaches and the players glistened the gleeful grins of a group of people enthused at the dawning of a new season as RSL motored through the first day of preparation for its CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round matchup with UANL Tigres, just over four weeks away on February 24. It wasn’t just excitement at getting back together with a close-knit group of teammates that elicited that reaction from the Claret-and-Cobalt though.
What was drawn up as a light training session designed to roll into the start of preseason camp after traveling from Salt Lake City earlier in the day, increased in intensity as the cobwebs were quickly shaken off and the 2015 season was officially discarded by the roadside. That intensity was heightened by a club that entered camp with a fitness level that grew praise from Head Coach Jeff Cassar as players showed how diligently they followed off-season workout plans.
“I think a lot of credit has to go to the players for the work that they put in in the off-season. It’s clear that they’re in great returning shape,” Cassar said after wrapping up the day’s workout. “The energy today was amazing. It seemed like everybody had a few energy drinks right before practice and I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the excitement of being back out on the field after such a long break. But I’m really pleased with the first day.”
Nobody held anything back as the squad was split into three teams for games of 6v6 with an extra player added as a neutral for the offensive team. The forwards were active in their movements and were rewarded with several goals while the rest of the group looked sharp as well in the short-sided games. Those goals didn’t come easy, though, as the defensive communication was a staple even on the first day of full training.
That will continue to be a focus as the camp continues through the week, culminating in scrimmages against San Diego State University on Saturday and Tijuana in Mexico on February 2.
“We really want to establish who we are going to be defensively. That’s going to start (Monday) in small numbers and we are going to gradually build and build each day,” Cassar said. “We want to make sure that we’re sound defensively, everyone is knowing their responsibilities coming away from this camp and as we get closer to Tucson we will start to incorporate the offensive side.”
RSL will hold two-a-day training sessions throughout the week, building the workload as the team progresses through camp.
Cassar had 27 players in camp, with the lone rostered player who wasn’t available for training on Sunday being newly-signed midfielder Sunday Stephen Obayan, who will join the team soon. That included all four RSL draft picks – Omar Holness, Max Lachowecki, Amass Amankona and Connor Sparrow, as well as Homegrown Player Danilo Acosta and newly-minted Designated Player Yura Movsisyan.
Nick Rimando was also there for the opening of camp for the first time in several years, as he had previously been away with the U.S. National Team’s annual January camp. Like Kyle Beckerman did in 2015, Rimando opted to stay with his club rather than attend the U.S. camp.
RSL will continue training at 10 am PT on Monday morning with a second session scheduled in the late afternoon.
