There has been a flurry of offseason activity in the nation’s capital with United adding five new faces to the Black-and-Red roster. The influx of proven MLS players like David Ousted, Frédéric Brillant and Darren Mattocks will give head coach Ben Olsen the difficult decision of deciphering his starting lineup for the 2018 season. The Black-and-Red also brought in international talents Ulises Segura and Júnior Moreno who have national team experience with Costa Rica and Venezuela, respectively, and will immediately compete for starting spots in the United midfield.
“We didn’t pick up anyone that won’t push for a starting spot this season and that’s exciting,” Ben Olsen, United's head coach, said. “Mattocks can play as a number nine, Segura is a versatile midfielder who we need to identify a specific position for and Moreno is a guy who can push for a starting spot as a number six or number eight role. Those players, along with Ousted and Brillant, are all capable starters in this league, but this is professional sports and they have to earn their spot. As athletes, I think they will be excited about the challenge.”
United now also have depth at the goalkeeper position with Ousted and Clark each vying for the starting spot. Both are proven goalkeepers in Major League Soccer and their resumes indicate that they have what it takes to perform at the highest levels. Clark started and performed admirably in the final five games last season with the impending departure of Bill Hamid to FC Midtjylland. Ousted then joined the Black-and-Red in January with an equally impressive goalkeeping pedigree after making 145 MLS appearances for the Whitecaps over five seasons. Olsen hopes that the competition between the two goalkeepers will drive the pair to new heights in 2018.
“I hope it pushes both of them to be better goalkeepers,” Olsen said. “They’ve proven that they are capable starters in this league and hopefully I’ll have tough decisions to make across the field this season. We haven’t had those decisions to make in recent years, and it takes some managing, but I think that’s a good problem to have.”
With the first two days of 2018's preseason in the books, new and familiar faces at United will look to impress over the coming weeks as they push to secure their spots in this year’s starting XI.
