Philadelphia Union’s preseason clash reveals insights for a high-stakes season ahead | OneFootball

A friendly match between Philadelphia Union and Slavia Prague ended in a modest 1-0 win for the Czechs, but the result was only a footnote in a game full of valuable lessons and observations for the Union. Head coach Carnell, just beginning his tenure with the Union, had nothing but praise for his players' attitude and effort, given how early it is in their preseason preparations.

A team in construction

The match, with just four days of training camp under their belt, was more an experiment than a competition. Carnell drove that point home. He also noted that the game had tested the players, just like it tested himself. "We've been in training camp for four days, so today we learned, and I learned a lot about this team. It's a bunch of proud young men, and I appreciate the work they put in," he said.

This is a process that requires patience and further tweaking in between, especially when there are new faces in the squad, such as 23-year-old Argentine defender Ian Glavinovich, who made his debut for the Union.

Experimentation and rotation

The match saw a lot of rotation and experimental lineups. Carnell used 26 players, including three goalkeepers: Andre Blake, Oliver Semmle, and Andrew Rick. This wide rotation wasn't about solidifying a starting lineup but about fostering internal competition and assessing individual performances in various scenarios.

“There’s nothing that warrants too much thought right now,” Carnell explained regarding the lineup changes. “Everyone is just competing, and we’re building internal competition. We’re pushing each other on game day and in training.”

The process helps in identifying individual talent, but it also gives insight into how players connect on the field, which is an important element to build on as a team. Carnell knows very well that chemistry and synergy often make the difference in a decisive moment.

Intensity as a trademark

Matching intensity for much of the game against a Slavia Prague squad already midseason and in peak competitive rhythm, Philadelphia Union earned their opponent's respect, at least in the first half. "I think we earned the respect of the opponent in the first half. You could see some of their players getting a bit frustrated on the flanks," Carnell added.

That the Union could compete at such a high level against such a prepared opponent is an encouraging sign for the future. The Union might still be weeks away from their physical and tactical peak, but to put in such a strong performance against a quality side like Slavia Prague is a good foundation upon which to build.

Friendlies' role in preparation

Friendlies like these are often a little tricky to assess, on the surface the scoreline looks pretty poor, but in context, it was anything but. For the Union, the score was less important than the process. Carnell said as much after the game, reiterating that a key point was learning how his players responded to the demands of a high-paced and competitive match.

It was a really good experiment for us, and it was great for me to see firsthand what the players have to offer," Carnell said, underlining that the focus was on maximizing lessons learned for the steps ahead in their preparation.