The 2020 preseason for Real Salt Lake has officially completed its first series of weekday training sessions as the team enters the weekend.
On Friday, the team began the day with a series of passing sequences before again breaking up into four teams to play small-sided matches against one another. While the field players were being put through their paces during the first half of training, the goalkeepers were under the watchful eye of Goalkeeper Coach Todd Hoffard and Real Monarchs Goalkeeper Coach Mirza Harambasic.
“We’re evaluating our goalkeepers every day,” Hoffard explained. “Today the goalkeepers were tested through a series of drills and open play. The competition for the goalkeeping position is going to be a great one throughout our preseason and from now until February 29, we’ll be evaluating to make a decision as to who will start at Orlando.”
With three goalkeepers on the RSL roster – Andrew Putna, David Ochoa and Zac MacMath – the goalkeeping competition is sure to be interesting with each player bringing something different to the team behind the backline.
Set Pieces
Hear the end of training, Matt Glaeser helped the team walk through various set piece and dead-ball situations, opening the door for the team and Glaeser to begin specializing its set pieces. The club introduced Glaeser into a dual role as an Assistant Coach for Real Monarchs, and a set piece specialist for RSL.
Throughout the year, Glaeser will analyze and evaluate not only RSL’s set piece opportunities, but will also evaluate ways to exploit its opponent during upcoming matches. One of few staff members in Major League Soccer who will specialize in set pieces, Glaeser will act as a trailblazer in the field.
“I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to set pieces and it’s something that I take incredibly seriously,” Glaeser said. “It will be a lot of work being with both the Monarchs and RSL, but it’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”
Up Next
Real Salt Lake returns to the field at Zions Bank Training Center one last time during the first week of the preseason on Saturday before the team departs for Phoenix, Arizona for the second leg of camp.
