While controversy rages in Utah over its potential new home in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy, Real Salt Lake is simply trying to get ready for the 2007 Major League Soccer season.
And preparations aren’t going that well, either. On its recent two-week tour of Spain, RSL lost friendlies against Castilla (La Liga giant Real Madrid’s reserve team) and San Sebastian, 3-1, and, 2-0, respectively. In particular RSL coach John Ellinger said he was displeased with new arrival Luis Tejada, the highly touted Panamanian international.
“If you’re going to fit in with this group, you’re going to have to work. If you’re going to fit in with this fan base, you’re going to have to give an honest effort,” said Ellinger. That’s quite a turnaround, considering that when Tejada arrived he was supposed to be the final piece of a golden triangle including Freddy Adu and Jeff Cunningham. Right now, the Deseret Morning News says Tejada isn’t even on Ellinger’s radar as a possibility for RSL’s opening game on April 7 against FC Dallas. Added Ellinger: “You can see he’s a good player. His fitness just isn’t where it needs to be. With fitness comes mobility.”
The player joined his new teammates in Spain for the first time after missing out on the first three weeks of RSL’s training camp due to qualifying duty with Panama for this summer’s Gold Cup.