The Deseret Morning News has a report on the new Jason Kreis administration at Real Salt Lake, where MLS’s all-time leading scorer has only been in charge now for two games. To some extent, the first-time coach has been secretive about the policies he’s implemented as RSL’s new coach. One thing we do know, is that accountability and a determination to be the best place high on his list of priorities: less than a week after being named coach, the former RSL captain gave the highly touted Panamanian Luis Tejada his walking papers on account of poor fitness and a lack of effort in training.
But an inquiring Salt Lake press, which does a thorough job of covering the city’s Major League Soccer team, wants specifics about what exactly RSL is working on turn its season around. Following the 1-1 draw away to Colorado, the RSL player-come-coach revealed that one of his new strategies had worked well: “We were switching the ball to Freddy (Adu) and getting him in good spots where he needs to be, running at players.” And Freddy responded with a man-of-the-match performance. As the Rapids’ Terry Cooke pressed forward, Adu was left in one-on-one opportunities down the left all match long. “I think we saw from Freddy tonight he can do well in those spots,” Kreis added. Indeed, RSL probably deserved the win, but Adu, noticeably, was guilty of poor finishing. Now his team needs him to step up and score.