Together, we persevered through 2013. In a rough season, the Black-and-Red never gave up, and you never gave up on us.
Adding another trophy to our stock, we shocked the MLS world, beating MLS Cup Finalist Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto, securing the 2013 Open Cup. Though we struggled through the regular season, there were definite bright spots that we will continue to build upon in 2014. And that rebuilding has already begun.
For the past five weeks of the off-season, General Manager Dave Kasper and the coaching and technical staff have been working tirelessly to rebuild, and quickly. Selecting Sean Franklin and Bobby Boswell in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft gives our back line a new look, bringing both veteran leadership and attacking weapons. Kasper labeled Eddie Johnson’s bidding war a “gun fight,” but adding a proven scorer at both the club and national level was worth the long nights in “the war room.” In Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft, we selected another proven playmaker Fabian Espindola and another defender to help improve the back four Nana Attakora.
All of us here at D.C. United cannot wait for 2014 to start. The SuperDraft is right around the corner, and we will continue growing our arsenal and building upon the momentum with the first pick in Philly. Shortly after, we head to IMG Academy, then Charleston and the March 8th Home Opener will be here before you know it.
We are ready for a fresh start, and we know you are too. So, let the countdown to 2014 begin. Happy Holidays from our family to yours. We will see you in 2014!
