In just two weeks, a familiar theme has emerged from training: intensity and execution, and the fact that both have come so far so quickly has the Impact’s bench boss quite pleased.
“It was pretty good,” said head coach Marco Schällibaum following the first 11v11 training of the season, last Thursday. The level of fitness is pretty high and the physicality of play has been good. I saw some good things out there.”
READ: Full roster to travel to Florida
Some of the good things came from a good offseason for the players, where each was given an individual offseason training routine to maximize work on their individual needs, as well as a start to training camp that involved a lot off fitness work.
“We worked on endurance in the first week while focusing on having our legs under us for long stretches. That theme has played out throughout camp and now once we get to Orlando, while we will keep working on some of other aspects of fitness, like long distance running, we will move towards more tactical work - towards playing games in the tournament. The only way to get fully match fit is by playing games, to get that rhythm of playing 90 minutes.”
In Orlando, the Impact is set to play at least five games, four as part of the Disney Pro Classic tournament (link here) and one friendly against the Philadelphia Union at the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars’ home stadium.
This trip to Florida should provide all the game action Schällibaum needs to be ready come opening day on March 2 in Seattle.
