Daily training report
Austin: Day 2
The saying is everything is bigger in Texas, and Thursday’s training session fit the bill. Entering Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, home of the University of Texas football team, was a little different than what the team is accustomed to. Surrounded by 100,000 seats and burnt orange at every turn, the players took some pictures and then got down to business in preparation for its first game of the ATX Pro Challenge against the Austin Aztex on Friday, Feb. 13. A round of applause to welcome newcomer Michael Farfan as well as a welcome back to Perry Kitchen and Steve Birnbaum gave way to 5v2, full field formations and shots on goal and ended with a small 7v7 game to goal. To end practice, of course the players had to try some field goals with soccer balls, what else are you supposed to do on a football field?
On the Field Highlight of the Day:
The overall highlight was training in Texas Memorial Stadium. The icing on the cake was watching some of the player’s blast field goals. The best shot of the day? Taylor Kemp. The lefty lined up his first shot from 45 yards out, split the uprights right down the middle with plenty of room to spare. And as Davy Arnaud said, “That one would have been good from 60.”
Off Field Highlights of the Day:
Most of the team dinners during preseason are served in a private room in the hotel as everyone wears their D.C. United gear. Last night they switched things up a bit as we walked a few blocks from the hotel and enjoyed a great Italian meal at a local restaurant in downtown Austin. It’s a great way to get to experience the culture of a city, while also getting the players and staff out of the sometimes monotonous preseason routine.
Q&A with Perry Kitchen:
DCU: First of all welcome back. How does it feel to be back with D.C. United?
PK: It’s great. I’m very excited to be back and get the season going. It’s always good to see all the guys after a long off-season.
DCU: How was your time with the U.S Men’s National Team?
PK: It was a good camp. I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed playing with some of the best players from our country, and it was an added bonus to get my first cap. Overall, it was a good experience and a good stepping stone for me leading in to this preseason with United.
DCU: Speaking of your first cap, how did you feel when you stepped on the field for the first time?
PK: It’s something I’ve always dreamt about and actually living it was pretty special.
DCU: Does it help having a guy you know well, like Steve Birnbaum, in the camp with you?
PK: Yea, for sure. I know most of the guys, or know of them, but yea it always helps having someone you know well to hang out with, like Steve. But saying that all, the guys were welcoming and it was a good group to be with.
DCU: Two weeks out from the first CONCACAF game, what’s your mindset now that you’re back with D.C. United?
PK: It’s coming quick, especially for Steve and mysel. But saying that, we should be able to fit right back in with the guys and it’s exciting to be preparing for the quarterfinals. Hopefully we can advance to the semifinals and not only represent D.C. United, but also MLS.
Notes:
Michael Farfan arrived Wednesday night and trained with the team Thursday.
Steve Birnbaum and Perry Kitchen arrived Thursday afternoon after a month long stint with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Kitchen trained with the team while Birnbaum was held out due to a minor injury he picked up with the National Team.
D.C. United’s game against the Austin Aztex will take place at 9 p.m. EST and will be streamed on dcunited.com/live
