For Real Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnák, a hunger to compete and a desire to win has festered through the offseason. After a start-stop year that was 2020, 2021 is shaping up to be a busy year for the 25-year-old Slovakian.
On Wednesday, Rusnák featured in his first competitive match of 2021 in the first of three 2022 World Cup Qualifiers with Slovakia during the month of March. Rusnák started for Slovakia against Cyprus and played 60 minutes in the scoreless draw, all while donning the number 10 jersey for his country. Rusnák started the match on the wing but found himself central as the match progressed.
Adding to his competitive load this year is the UEFA Euro Championships, which Rusnák played an integral role in helping Slovakia qualify for, making the year more challenging but a task he’s more than willing to face head on.
“2021 is going to be a busy year for me with the European championships with my national team of Slovakia this summer,” Rusnák said. “That is going to be a huge thing this summer for me in my career and I’m really looking forward to that.”
Upon his return to Utah following Slovakia’s first round of World Cup qualifiers, Rusnák will hit the ground running and rejoin RSL for the remaining weeks of preseason ahead the club’s opening regular season match on April 24 at Minnesota. Rusnák revels in the idea that the Major League Soccer season is so close and believes the independent preparation of players and the team as a whole provides a large opportunity for the club to start the season on the front foot.
As one of the prominent leaders within the RSL squad, Rusnák has led by example through the offseason and into preseason in an effort to bring success to the club and help reestablish the club as a premier club in MLS.
“This is the best shape I’ve been in since I arrived at the club four years ago. “2020 was a difficult year not just for us but for everyone,” Rusnák reflected. “The offseason was extra-long and for me personally, I’m happy to come back to training and I can’t wait for the official start of the season.” Rusnák said with a smile. “This is something that we all do for ourselves and if each individual does it for themselves, then it will make the whole group better. That’s how you build a great team and the more time we spend together the we’re going to show that it’s not just a one- or two-man team.”
Next up for Rusnák is a match against Malta in World Cup qualifiers on Saturday, March 25. The match will take place in Slovakia at the Stadium Antona Malatinskeho. Following Saturday’s match Slovakia will face Russia on Tuesday, March 30 in Slovakia.
RSL returns to the pitch on Saturday for its first scrimmage of the 2021 preseason when it welcomes USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC to Rio Tinto Stadium for an exclusive Season Ticket Member event on March 27. Kickoff from Sandy is set for 10:00 a.m. MT. Season Ticket Members interested in attending are asked to email fanrelations@rsl.com.
