Real Salt Lake finished off its 10-day stint in Irvine, California, on Thursday and now will shift its attention to the next phase of training camp on Sunday when the team departs for Tucson, Arizona.
While in The Grand Canyon State, RSL will play four matches in the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup, putting into clearer focus the club’s vision for 2015. Head Coach Jeff Cassar saw the initial glimpses of what he projects for the team while in Irvine in the highly-productive phase of camp.
“This camp was very positive. The guys’ energy and commitment was fantastic. We’ll look to sharpen up all areas in Tucson,” Cassar said.
RSL won both preseason training matches in California, topping UC-Irvine 3-1, then finishing the trip with a 1-0 win over the USL’s OC Blues. In those games, Cassar got a look at how his newcomers gel with the long list of returning players. In those matches, only Kyle Beckerman and Jeff Attinella played more than 45 minutes in any match. In the four matches in Arizona, players will continue to get extended in their playing time as the staff eases them into form to open the season on March 7 against the Portland Timbers.
Along with fitness, RSL will also focus on sharpening their play on the field during the matches and at training.
“We’re starting to have ideas of how we want to play. Now comes execution. Now comes repetition and also having a little success so the guys see really what we’re trying to do. But the guys have been unbelievable trying to grasp new ideas and at times it looks really good,” Cassar said. “When we get there, it’s really game-focused. Up until now, you’re working on so many things. In Tucson, it’s about game preparation and how we’re going to play. I’m really looking forward to that.”
The team will be joined for the first time in Arizona by Luis Gil and Nick Rimando, who have been away with the U.S. National Team at Jurgen Klinsmann’s January camp in California and Chile. Rimando played in both matches against Chile and Panama while Gil saw his second cap last Sunday in a substitute appearance against Panama.
Bringing the league’s all-time shutout king in Rimando and rising superstar in Gil into camp will undoubtedly provide a boost for Real Salt Lake as it enters the final phase of preseason.
RSL will train on Monday and Tuesday before facing the New England Revolution on Wednesday.
Feb. 18 – Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution - North Grandstand at Kino Sports Complex – 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 21 – Real Salt Lake vs. FC Tucson – North Grandstand at Kino Sports Complex – 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 – Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City – North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex – 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 28 – Real Salt Lake vs. TBD
