Crew SC’s first preseason match is finally around the corner. The Black & Gold head to Tucson, Arizona today for two weeks of training and competition in the Southwest. Six MLS clubs, two USL teams and PDL’s FC Tucson will participate in the fifth annual Desert Diamond Cup, which begins this Wednesday and runs through Saturday, February 27.
Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter says his team has been eagerly awaiting the upcoming opportunity for competition.
“After a period of training against yourselves everyday, you want some competition,” he says. “You want to go test yourselves against other people, so we’re excited about it.”
In addition to the Black & Gold, the New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City will also participate in the tournament. Arizona United and the Swope Park Rangers are the two local USL clubs scheduled to appear in the event.
Columbus has spent the first three weeks of preseason together, training in Lakewood Ranch, Florida for the first two, and locally last week at SuperKick in Lewis Center. With a few roster moves, including new players arriving throughout camp, the guys have been working to get accustomed to each other.
With the season opener less than three weeks away, Berhalter’s confident in the capabilities of this group.
“I think we’re stronger,” he says. “I think with the pieces we added, we’re stronger this year than we were last year; but again, there’s a whole lot that goes into actual results—and that’s the team chemistry, keeping guys healthy and performing. On paper, I think we’re probably stronger, but I think there’s a long way to go.”
The focus for the first two weeks was primarily on learning and reiterating Crew SC’s system and style of play, while the most recent emphasis was purely on defensive aspects of the game. Looking ahead, Berhalter says the framework of his team is in place.
“We need to perform,” Berhalter says of his roster’s current state. “We have the personnel; now it’s about performance.”
At this point, Crew SC is double-set in almost every position, inviting ongoing battles for game time throughout the year. That starts this Wednesday against Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m.
“Finding our best lineup, finding what guys are fighting for positions, who gets the position, and that’ll be the next couple weeks— the competition for starting eleven places,” Berhalter says.
Of the eight teams competing in Tucson, Crew SC is guaranteed to face three: Sporting, RSL and the Swope Park Rangers. Columbus’ fourth and final match to closeout the Desert Diamond Cup will depend on the results of the tournament. See the full schedule, including broadcast information, below.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Colorado Rapids vs. Swope Park Rangers, 5:30 p.m. – North Stadium
Sporting Kansas City vs. Columbus Crew SC, 6:00 p.m. – N. Grandstand
(A live audio stream of the match will be available on ColumbusCrewSC.com with Neil Sika on the call)
New England Revolution vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:00 p.m. – N. Grandstand
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Arizona United vs. Swope Park Rangers, 4:30 p.m. – N. Grandstand
Columbus Crew SC vs. Real Salt Lake, 5:00 p.m. – North Stadium
(A live video stream of the match will be available on ColumbusCrewSC.com)
Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:00 p.m. – N. Grandstand
Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. – North Stadium
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Arizona United vs. FC Tucson, 3:30 p.m. – N. Grandstand
New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, 5:30 p.m. – North Stadium
Swope Park Rangers vs. Columbus Crew SC, 6:00 p.m. – N. Grandstand
(A live audio stream of the match will be available on ColumbusCrewSC.com with Neil Sika on the call)
Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:00 p.m. – North Stadium
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Swope Park Rangers vs. FC Tucson, 4:00 p.m. – N. Grandstand
Arizona United vs. MLS TBA, 4:30 p.m. – North Stadium
MLS TBA vs. MLS TBA, 6:30 p.m. – N. Grandstand
MLS TBA vs. MLS TBA, 7:00 p.m. – North Stadium
(A live video stream of Crew SC's match will be available on ColumbusCrewSC.com)
Additional information and tickets can be found at http://bit.ly/DDCTickets.
