The Wall of the Wasatch was back with the Claret-and-Cobalt this week and Nick Rimando has big goals for himself and his club in 2017.
After breaking nearly every goalkeeping record in MLS history over the past few seasons, Rimando returned to Real Salt Lake for his 11th season with the club and 18th in Major League Soccer. With lofty goals in his sights, his club season started in earnest on Tuesday after he spent the first month away with the U.S. National Team at January camp.
And while his sights are set on winning a third career MLS Cup – and second with Real Salt Lake – it was the opportunity to go to a second World Cup that was the topic of conversation when he met with the media on Monday at RSL’s annual media day.
“It’s always an honor to represent your country. My goal was to make it to the World Cup and I’ve done that. Now it doesn’t change. I want to make that squad for Russia,” said Rimando, who will turn 38 in June. “I want to make the team for qualifying and the Gold Cup this year. It starts here with Real Salt Lake and I’ll put the work in here and hopefully get some good results and start off strong and be considered for the qualification games.”
Rimando has five career shutouts in 22 U.S. National Team appearances, including a shutout of Serbia during January camp. He adds that to his historic MLS stats that include records in career wins (183) and shutouts (129). While he was pleased with his individual performance in camp under new U.S. Coach Bruce Arena, he knows that his play for Real Salt Lake could go a long way in determining his positioning with the national team when in takes the field for a pair of World Cup qualifiers in late March against Honduras and Panama.
To Rimando, getting to that top spot with the national team will take club success and he is looking to improve upon his season in 2017, when he helped RSL back into the postseason after a one-year playoff hiatus. Getting a strong start will build the team’s confidence this year, particularly after some changes to the structure of the roster with an influx of youth along with a few new veterans to add to the mix.
“You always strive to be better. We made the playoffs this past year, but I think everybody in the locker room knows that’s not good enough,” he said. “I’m excited to get the Real Salt Lake crest back on and see what we have to work with this year.”
Rimando and RSL will take on the Portland Timbers in the first preseason match of the second stage of camp in Portland on Thursday. The match will be streamed live on RSL.com.
