Multiple D.C. United players spoke of a long MLS season and tired legs following Saturday’s 1-1 tie with Colorado. All the more reason for two plus hours of practice Monday, which concluded with a serious fitness circuit.
“We just haven’t had good enough training sessions,” said assistant coach Tommy Soehn. “Now we’re going to get back into it. Obviously, the fitter you are, the sharper you are with you mind and you start making better decisions.”
“It’s a long season and I think it is wearing on some of the guys a little bit — maybe it’s not everybody,” said midfielder Josh Gros. “I think that has something to do with it, but it’s wearing on every team in the league so it can’t be an excuse.”
D.C. has the added intensity of a knockout match against Red Bull New York at RFK Stadium in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday before Saturday’s highly anticipated clash with defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles. That game also provides a reunion with forward Santino Quaranta, who has scored in two of his first three matches with the Galaxy since being traded by United.
“One of the reasons why we’re successful is because we out-work everybody. But if you don’t do that, then sometimes the soccer isn’t good enough,” said Soehn, who recently turned down the opportunity to be considered for head coach at Toronto FC next season to finish the season with United. “So we’ve gotta make sure that we’re fit and able to do all the dirty work on the field that makes us successful.”
Note: United defender John Wilson returned to practice in a limited capacity Monday after missing three weeks with patella tendonitis.
