NEW MEXICO UNITED
NM United utilized part of bye to reset and get away from soccer
Players spent time doing variety of different activities during break
Dennis Sanchez was three words in when the shout came from the back of the room.
OK. It was more of an imploration. Well, more than one.
鈥淏e honest,鈥� a New Mexico United assistant called out.
Hey, even managers need to be held accountable. Especially when it comes to how truthful to be about whether Sanchez followed the advice given to players or continued to log hours and film during some scheduled off time at the end of last week鈥檚 bye.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if balance is achievable, but there is a level of kind of stepping away and seeing things in a clearer sense,鈥� Sanchez said with a smirk on Thursday. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 a very reflective person by nature, but (you) try to find the balance of making sure that we鈥檙e moving in the right direction, but also taking advantage of the time (away).鈥�
It appeared needed after getting routed 3-0 at Phoenix Rising FC on April 11.
So after a full week of practice, including a Friday Sanchez said was more grueling than usual, United made last weekend free of soccer obligations for the players. A chance to relax and recharge for a couple of days. More importantly, it offered the possibility to reset.
鈥淚t was good,鈥� forward Greg Hurst said ahead of Saturday鈥檚 USL Cup match against AV Alta FC. 鈥淭here is a lot of pressure every day. You try to compete to keep your spot (within) the team and obviously, you鈥檙e competing and you鈥檙e under pressure during games, so mentally, it does take its toll, especially when we have not had the start we wanted.
鈥淪o to get a couple days away and kind of get away from the pitch sometimes helps you just decompress 鈥� and come back with a fresh mindset to start picking up and going again.鈥�
The start of the season has been frustrating.
United is tied for second-to-last in the USL in goals scored (5), ahead of only Monterey Bay FC (3). It is tied for 12th in goals conceded (8). That doesn鈥檛 take into account the club鈥檚 pair of U.S. Open Cup matches 鈥� a 3-2 win over Cruizers FC and a 4-0 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC.
So, how did United decide to spend its downtime in an effort for that fresh mindset? A variety of non-soccer ways.
Some players opted to chill by their apartments鈥� pool for some water time. (And more sun?) Others headed to the driving range to get in some golf shots.
A few took advantage of the extended opportunities for rehab and treatment.
鈥淧ersonally, it鈥檚 been nice because I鈥檝e been out,鈥� midfielder Gedion Zelalem said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 given me time to kind of get back into training and hopefully get minutes this weekend.鈥�
And when all that was done or before venturing out, the players even kicked back and put on some TV 鈥� or telly as those from the United Kingdom refer to it 鈥� for some must-see viewing.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of Champions League games on and Premier League games, and me and Geds have watched a few of them together with some (of the) other boys,鈥� said Hurst, who hails from Scotland. 鈥淵ou want to watch high-level games to see what you can take from that. I think some of the best learning comes from watching the best to do it, see what their ideas are and what they鈥檙e trying to do and how they implement the basics. It鈥檚 the basics that are the standpoint for them.
鈥淲atching a lot of football, I think, helps with your development of the game. That鈥檚 one thing I do for sure when I鈥檝e got time off is watch as much football as possible.鈥�
So to relax from soccer, Hurst and company 鈥� watched more soccer?
鈥淚t sounds a bit counterintuitive,鈥� Hurst said with a grin. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 nice when it鈥檚 someone else, especially when you have that little break.鈥�
And United is hoping it pays off. For Saturday and in the matches after. That鈥檚 its honest evaluation.
鈥淚t gave us time to kind of break down what鈥檚 been happening in the season,鈥� Zelalem said, 鈥渢o try to play better.鈥�
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .
