D.C. United gathered for its first training session of the year at RFK Stadium’s auxiliary field yesterday, hoping to put the disappointments of last season far behind.
United competed in four tournaments in 2005 but crashed out of every cup with lopsided losses.
In its last game of the year, the 2004 champions lost 4-0 to the Chicago Fire at home in the first round of the playoffs.
People were interested in these podcasts
Throughout the season, United was caught up in a media circus over comments by its most visible player, Freddy Adu, who was disgruntled about his playing time. Yesterday, United captain Jamie Moreno admitted the controversy surrounding Adu might have affected the team.
“[The media] made such a big deal over the many issues with Freddy that we tried not to let it affect us mentally,” Moreno said. “Maybe it did; maybe it didn’t. We don’t know. This year nothing is going to affect us, and Freddy knows that, too. This year it’s going to be all D.C. United, and I hope you guys [in the media] understand that. … Freddy is in his third year, and he is one of us, and he knows that.”
Adu has been training with the U.S. national team as it prepares for the World Cup but will join United on Monday.
United coach Peter Nowak said he and Adu patched things in the offseason and are now on the “same page.” But when pressed, Nowak admitted the Adu affair was a distraction last year.
“I’m not going to go back to that [Adu] story for sure, but I will give you the example of the Indianapolis coach,” Nowak said. “They were [13-1] when the son of Tony Dungy died. I think every little distraction that comes your way you think, ’Are these things going to make us stronger, or are these things going to make us better?’”
Apart from losing attacking midfielder Dema Kovalenko, United has the same team it did last season.
Also missing from training were Ben Olsen, Brian Carroll, Santino Quaranta and Bobby Boswell, who are with the U.S. team, and Jamil Walker, who is sick. Alecko Eskandarian, who missed most of last season with the effects of a concussion, trained with the team wearing special head gear. Top draft pick Justin Moose also was there yesterday.
United will move its training to Bradenton, Fla., next week and will play a series of exhibition games.
Note — Moreno, whose wife is expecting the couple’s fifth child soon, bleached his hair blonde again. He did this last in 1997, when the club won its second title.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.