Real Salt Lake’s 16th season in Major League Soccer has been loaded with pressures both unforeseen and expected. From beginning the year under first-year Head Coach Freddy Juarez to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the club sits just one day away from a sense of normal pressure as the regular season continues on Saturday.
RSL continues the 2020 regular season against the Colorado Rapids in the first of two matches against between the Rocky Mountain rivals during phase one. The pressure the team now sees comes in the form of internal pressure placed on itself as it looks to climb the Western Conference standings.
“With us just playing against other teams within the West, every match becomes almost like a six-point game,” Juarez explained. “We want to accumulate as many points as we can so if MLS decides to continue play even further then we’ll be in a good position. The race for those playoff spots starts on Saturday and we want to get the highest spot possible.”
Having faced Colorado once already this year in the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida, RSL enters its first match in a home market since March feeling it matches up well with its opponent. Securing a 2-0 win over Colorado just over a month ago, RSL expects a similar type of match in Commerce City.
“When you look at the last five games they’ve played – the two before the shutdown and the games in Orlando – they’re going to try and press you high up the field,” Juarez said. “They’re a team that wants to get into the final third and put you under pressure. I expect a very competitive game against them.”
With the sense of normalcy returning as play resumes in home markets, RSL also returns a sense of belief in itself knowing what it has to do to reach the pinnacle of the Western Conference.
“We know we’re a good team and we definitely have our foundation,” defender Nedum Onuoha said. “It’s really good we have games under our belt so we can tweak one or two things as we get back into the rhythm of playing games every week.”
Re-opening the regular season against a rival also provides an added element for both fan bases and as RSL looks to claim its 12thRocky Mountain Cup in 14 seasons, the team understands the importance of cementing its name on the trophy for the fans.
“I think this is going to be a big game for both sides,” midfielder Albert Rusnák said. “Everyone will want to re-enter the season on the front foot – including the fans – just like we did in Orlando against them. It’s a completely new game and we have to be ready.”
Catch RSL when it faces the Rapids on Saturday (7:00 p.m. MT; KMYU & KSL TV app) from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. RSL returns to Rio Tinto Stadium against LAFC on Wednesday, August 26.
