The topic of Branko Boskovic and his omission from the D.C. United lineup will continue to be a source of intrigue, especially when “Great goal, Branko!” was the refrain multiple times in short-sided training games on Tuesday. The Montenegrin midfielder and highest-paid player on the United roster also walked away from Saturday’s reserve match against New England with a goal and two assists a week after scoring in D.C.’s first reserve match of the season against Columbus.
But despite playing in Wembley Stadium for his national team last fall, Boskovic hasn’t seen any action for the D.C. United first team.
United head coach Ben Olsen addressed Boskovic in a conversation with The Examiner last week, and he answered a similar question in a similar way again Tuesday.
“He’s been an absolute pro since the day he got here this year,” Olsen said. “He works very hard at training. The reserve games, he plays as hard as he would in a regular game. He’s been fantastic, and right now, I have [Chris] Pontius out there [on the left wing]. That could change. Again, we’re week to week here, and I think he’s proven to us that he’s willing to work and put the effort to show us that he deserves to be on the field. Again, that’s what we ask of our reserves, and he’s been fantastic in that way.”
Similar to last summer when Boskovic arrived from Austria following his offseason, the team again expressed concern over Boskovic’s fitness this winter, with United general manager Dave Kasper telling me during preseason that Boskovic did not arrive in the shape that the team expected. Boskovic told me Tuesday that he’s lost a kilogram but he hasn’t changed physically. He also hasn’t expressed any unusual displeasure over his lack of playing time.
“I’m professional,” said Boskovic, whose salary was listed as $516,200 last season and who is under contract through June 2012, according to his agent. “I’m contracted here, and I must work. If they think like this, for me, it’s okay. I must keep working and be here.”
An equal concern for the 30-year-old is remaining in good standing with the Montenegro national team and head coach Zlatko Kranjčar, who is likely to call upon him next for a Euro 2012 qualifier at home against Bulgaria on June 4.
“I hope nothing change because this coach know me long time,” Boskovic said. “Normally, when you are not playing, you are not in good condition, and it’s not good. But it’s okay because this year we have this reserve game. It’s not same like when you are playing MLS, but it’s good.”
