Daily training report
Preseason reset: Day 2
D.C. United’s first 24 hours in Florida are in the books, and so far so good. The sun is out, the grass is green, and it’s easy to tell that the players are excited to be back. After Saturday evening’s training session, which consisted mostly of quick ball work and technical drills, the Black-and-Red got back to it bright and early Sunday morning at IMG Academy. Stretching and agility drills quickly turned into half-field passing drills and then eight vs. eight to goal. Three teams of eight played round robin games to end training. While Taylor Kemp scored a left-footed strike from distance, and Diego Restrepo made several big goal-line saves, what was most noticeable was the intensity on the field.
On the Field Highlight of the Day: Two plays drew “ooohhhss” and “aaahhhss” from several spectators in attendance today. One was Kemp’s left footed blast from 20-yards out to beat Riccardo Anedda, and the other was a series of saves from Restrepo. With Collin Martin in on goal, Restrepo came off his line and denied the young midfielder with a one handed save before getting back up and diving to the other side of the goal to deny the follow-up attempt.
Off Field Highlight of the Day: After the first team dinner, Saturday night, players had a little down time for themselves. Some went to the store to get snacks, some received treatment and some gathered around a computer in the “boat house” (the team’s main hub for treatment, gear, food, drinks, etc.) to watch the “NFL 2015” – A Bad Lip Reading of the NFL. A crowd of Chris Rolfe, Andrew Dykstra, Jalen Robinson, Miguel Aguilar, Luis Silva and Fabián Espíndola enjoyed a good laugh before calling it a night to rest up for the morning.
Q&A with Sean Franklin:
We caught up with defender Sean Franklin at the end of the teams first morning training session to get his thoughts on the first couple of days with the Black-and-Red.
DCU: How was training?
SF: Training was good today. There was no wind and the sun was out, so weather was perfect. It was a good opening morning session.
DCU: What are you guys telling each other to start camp?
SF: Just to take care of your bodies. We know it’s a long tough preseason and we want to make sure we are good to go when we have our CONCACAF Champions League game. It’s all about being smart. If you have any aches or pains you need to see the trainers, you need to be icing those injuries and staying hydrated to take care of yourself.
DCU: What are you guys really looking for in the next couple weeks?
SF: Chemistry. We have been on break for a while and it’s nice to be back, but it’s time to go to work. We need to make sure we are on the same page for the Champions League, which is just around the corner in February.
DCU: Speaking of Champions League, how does that early game change things?
SF: We need to start fast and be sharp. It’s a big competition for us. We want to make sure we advance and we need to get on the same page as quick as we can.
DCU: How about yourself? How do you feel?
SF: I feel good. I’m a little older now and it’s about taking care of the body. I am just making sure I am getting in shape and will be healthy for the season.
WATCH: Extended Q&A with Sean Franklin
Observation of the Day:
Intensity is clearly an early theme in camp after an offseason of both physical and mental rest. But United players are competitors. Franklin himself said, “it’s time to go to work,” and that’s exactly what has been preached for the last 24 hours by Head Coach Ben Olsen. Phrases such as “it’s time to crank it up,” and “let’s make sure our minds are on,” have been heard several times in the first two sessions as Olsen makes sure the tone is set right away. While jokes have been made off the field, it’s all business on the field as everyone knows what’s at stake in the coming months for a team with lofty goals in 2015.
Other Notes:
D.C. United Academy player Jorge Calix and Mamadou “Futty” Danso both joined the team Saturday night in Sarasota, Fla., and participated in training today.
