Real Salt Lake has nearly reached the conclusion of its second leg of the 2020 preseason, completing a 90-minute training session on Friday morning at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona.
The weekday sessions were capped on Friday with the players arriving feeling fresh after earning an afternoon of rest on Thursday.
“On Friday we just wanted to balance the training out with some fun, enthusiasm and recap everything we worked on over the last week,” RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “Working on our patterns, possession and attack over the last week we were able to bring it together at the end of the week as we head into Saturday.”
Many Positives
Over the first two weeks of the 2020 preseason, the team’s main focus has been in the attack and building out of the back. During the team’s time in Phoenix, the attack has only been expanded through various pattern plays and competitions and while the players enjoy the attack, the work can be taxing under the Arizona sun. After what proved to be a tiring week for the group, Juarez was happy with the spirit in the group even after taxing trainings and team competitions throughout the week.
“This week has been tough,” Juarez said. “We had a hike in the middle of the week. Hard trainings before and after that and the tournaments we’ve had within training bring out a lot in the guys. To respond the way they did at the end of the week says a lot about the group. Everyone is enthusiastic and there’s a great air in the group right now.”
Connect Four
On Thursday evening prior to the team’s meal together, the coaching staff put together a friendly tournament of the popular family game Connect Four. The team was split into several groups of three, playing to best-of-three matches against other teams in a bracketed format to a final.
“We were trying to think of ways that we could have some fun with the guys and continue the competitive spirit,” Juarez said with a laugh. “We set up the teams and brackets in our meal room and we had a great time with our team-bonding activity.”
Up Next
RSL will train on Saturday morning for its last session of its Phoenix trip before returning to Utah later in the day. The team will then train throughout the week in Herriman before departing for its second trip of the preseason. RSL opens its 2020 regular season on Saturday, February 29 at Orlando City SC.
