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SALT LAKE CITY — Though its most recent stay in the Beehive State only lasted a few days, Real Salt Lake is already into the second stage of preseason training in preparation for the season opener March 8 at the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The Claret-and-Cobalt held media day Tuesday after returning from a week in Casa Grande, Ariz., where the focus was on defense and the new coaching staff getting acquainted with the returning players.
Just over two months removed from a disappointing defeat to Sporting Kansas City in the MLS Cup, members of the team stopped by Ardell Brown Recreational before they head to Irvine, Calif.
Expectations continue to be as high as they can be, and general manager Garth Lagerwey explained that the club intends to follow the same process that led to 96 wins or ties in 132 games (72.7 percent) over the last four seasons.
“We set this up as a three-year plan,” Lagerwey said. “We set all our contracts up that way. The last time we did this was the beginning of the 2009 season. In 2010, if you look at that stretch of three years — ’09, ’10 and ’11 — ’10 was actually the best season.
“That was when we had the best goal difference in league history. We scored the most goals, had the fewest goals allowed in the league. I’m hopeful that as a general manager, I’ve learned something since 2009 and that this plan works as well as the last one did.”
Familiar faces return to the pitch from a team that battled injuries and had 19 total surgeries last season, the most it has ever dealt with by a margin of 10, according to Lagerway.
In charge is Jeff Cassar, who spent the last seven seasons as an assistant under Jason Kreis. Cassar and Lagerwey have known one another since they both played for Chicago in 1997.
The core that has established a foundation of success features six players over the age of 30: Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, Nat Borchers, Ned Grabavoy, Javier Morales and Alvaro Saborio.
Beckerman and Rimando will continue to train with the U.S. men’s national team through May, when Jurgen Klinsmann will release the 30-man roster he’ll take to the World Cup.
RSL is used to having to mix and match as it started 27 different players last year, the most in MLS. Increased contributions from the younger players on the roster will likely be a key to make it back to the playoffs.
Luis Gil is one of those players that Lagerwey envisions taking the next step.
“We need him to be a spot-franchise player, if there’s such a thing,” Lagerwey said of Gil filling in for the stars when they’re out of the lineup. “In the meantime, if he can just be Scottie Pippen.”
Gil registered his first cap for the national team during a 2-0 friendly win over South Korea Saturday.
“He does what Luis does: He acts way older than he is,” Beckerman said.
Business as usual this offseason allowed the Claret-and-Cobalt to add one of the best prospects seen in Sandy since Gil’s inception.
“We’ve already had the best draft we’ve ever had, though, because we signed Jordan Allen,” Lagerwey said. … (He) would’ve been a top–five pick in the draft but because of our ownership’s willingness to invest in our academy, that is now reaping dividends.
“He’s very versatile. He can play in defense, midfield or forward. He is the most pro-ready prospect that we’ve signed.”
Allen shouldn’t factor into the 11 on the pitch too often this year, but could see opportunities if injuries and call-ups again test the team’s depth.
Robbie Findley will be sidelined until April when he thinks he’ll be able to begin training.
Fans also got their first glimpse at the new RSL kit Tuesday, as LifeVantage has become the new sponsor.
RSL has departed for the University of California-Irvine for a 10-day training camp, after which it will head to Tuscon, Ariz., to wrap up the preseason with four fixtures.
