Real Salt Lake has had its depth tested already in the first two weeks of the MLS season. While players have missed time while with the U.S. U-20 National Team in the first week, now they return, but Head Coach Jeff Cassar is now finding injuries have him looking along the depth chart for starting options against the Chicago Fire.
Nowhere is that more prevalent than the center back position. Already playing without Aaron Maund, who is nearing full recovery from a small knock he took in preseason, Justen Glad and Chris Schuler are also unavailable for RSL’s first road match of the season on Saturday (KMYU, noon MT kickoff). Glad suffered an injury against Honduras in the final of the CONCACAF U-20 Championships in Costa Rica and is still being evaluated, while Schuler’s foot was sore coming out of a scoreless draw against Toronto FC in the MLS regular season opener last week at Rio Tinto Stadium.
That leaves Cassar with two options at center back against the Fire – nine-year MLS veteran David Horst and rookie Justin Schmidt. While Horst was key in RSL shutting down Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco for Toronto, Schmidt will be making his professional debut after being selected in the second round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Washington.
He has impressed with his poise early on and Cassar is confident in his abilities to contribute this weekend.
“Justin’s had a great preseason. He’s right next to David Horst and Chris Wingert, who are great leaders. And he’s got Nick Rimando behind him. So he’s surrounded by good experience,” Cassar said. “With Justin’s mentality, he’s very sharp and we’ve given him certain tasks to do. Just do those well. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Schmidt was a mainstay in a University of Washington defense that was a consistent contender in the competitive Pac-12 Conference. But still the jump from the collegiate ranks to the pro level is never an easy one.
To Cassar, Schmidt showed an early readiness to make that leap because of his talents as much as his mental preparedness.
“He’s mentally strong. He’s got a wonderful left foot on him. We just need to make sure he’s making the right choices on his delivery of balls,” Cassar said. “I have confidence in him. He’s shown the ability, when he does make a mistake, bounce back very quickly, which shows what kind of character he has and what kind of pro he’s going to be for a long time in this league.”
