If you blinked, you would have missed it…
Preseason is flying by as we’ve reached the conclusion of week two. That’s right – the first leg of our Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League tie is just 18 days away.
The players have been training twice-a-day most days to reach peak-level fitness and adapt to head coach Anthony Hudson’s new system.
“We want to build confidence in terms of how we’re trying to play,” Hudson said. “We want certain things to come off that we’ve been working on, and really just to build a bit of cohesion in the group.”
Wednesday marked the first opportunity to compete against someone in a different color shirt as the side faced-off against Eastern Conference finalists Columbus Crew SC in their first preseason friendly of 2018.
“Overall it was promising,” Hudson said. “Definitely as the game wore on the players were a lot more comfortable and settled into the game. I think we saw a lot of positive things going forward with quite a lot of chances. I was pleased.”
Defender Kortne Ford also had a few positive takeaways from the first test.
“As a group we’ve come together collectively, and all had good mentalities,” Ford said. “It’s been a learning system with the new formation we’re playing. Guys are doing well with it. We’re taking the time to breakdown film and make sure we’re growing in every aspect of it.”
How Swede it is…
Johan Blomberg made his first appearance in preseason camp on January 26 in Casa Grande, Arizona. We followed the Swedish midfielder around with a camerato document his first day with his new teammates.
The attacking midfielder’s motor has been on display early and often in Arizona and the new #8 featured in the first eleven for coach Hudson in the first preseason scrimmage.
Fostering technique...
Goalkeeper is one of the few positions on the pitch where familiar faces remain from last season, but Tim Howard and Zac MacMath didn’t get to the top of the profession by taking days off.
Below is an all-access look at two of the top ’keepers in MLS during a recent session - the amount of work these guys put in to their craft is a sight to see.
Next stop: Scottsdale...
Next up for the Rapids is a Saturday, February 3 scrimmage against Sporting Kansas City in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This matchup should provide the guys with a good opportunity to test the waters against a Western Conference rival before facing them in the 2018 home opener on March 24.
Following the 10:30 AM kickoff, the players will return to Denver for a few days before heading to Tucson on Wednesday, February 7 for their second camp of preseason.
