D.C. United didn’t take long to put it on display for the unusually large gathering of media attending training on Thursday, throwing newly acquired Dwayne De Rosario into the traditional central playmaking role with a 4-4-2 formation during a full-field scrimmage. (New defender Brandon McDonald also jumped right in at center back, moving Perry Kitchen out to the right while Daniel Woolard missed out of training with what United head coach Ben Olsen called a back issue.)
“We got him to use him,” Olsen said. “It’s great. He’s saying all the right things and doing all the right things right now. He’s integrated with the group right now. It’s a great addition for us. There’s going to be some growing pains with this whole deal. Anytime you add new players, it takes a little bit of time, but we need to get him involved with this group as quick as possible.”
As it turns out, De Rosario nearly started his MLS career in D.C. 10 years ago before instead landing with San Jose. We’ll get to that a bit later.
For now, how’s about the shock still felt at D.C. United by forward Charlie Davies, one of the D.C. players who was closest with now departed Dax McCarty.
“Dax actually called me before the meeting with the coach,” Davies said. “It’s definitely a shock. You lose a really close friend and a great teammate, then all of a sudden, that’s part of the business.”
Speaking of the business, it didn’t take Davies long to ask McCarty who was coming the other way from New York, nor for his eyes to light up when he got the answer.
“That’s my first thing. I was like, ‘We’re losing you. Who are we getting?’” Davies said. “He said, ‘A straight up trade for De Rosario.’ I was like, ‘Oh. Okay, that’s part of the business. We’re going to miss you.’ But [De Rosario is] a guy that’s really going to help us.’”
De Rosario anticipated that he’d play Saturday against Philadelphia. There’s little doubt where it’ll be on the field if he does.
“I feel good,” he said. “I came here to make an immediate impact, and hopefully I can do that Saturday, whether it’s to start, whether it’s coming off the bench. That’s one thing that the fans can guarantee, that I’m coming here to work my butt off and to get results.”
