An early August bye week for the Black & Gold is a time to recharge mentally and physically before hitting the pitch again. With a full week of business-as-usual training, Crew SC will also take advantage of a rare weekend without MLS action.
In training, Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter raised the intensity. With a focus toward breaking down a compact defense, creating chances inside the 18-yard box and finishing those chances, the time was utilized with introspection.
Before moving into next weekend's hosting of NYCFC, the Black & Gold will also look to regenerate throughout their first weekend without a match since the second week of June.
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For goalkeeper Steve Clark, a weekend without a match means a chance to spend time with his family before preparing for the the final 13 games of the season.
“I think it’s important to be off when you’re off," Clark says. "You learn as a young goalkeeper to be on when the game’s on, and off when you’re off; So over the weekend off, I’m not going to be thinking about soccer. I’m going to be at a lake, spending time with my wife and family."
Midfielder/ defender Rodrigo Saravia will also be spending his time off to reset in order to be ready to play for the rest of the season.
“A bye week gives us more time to relax and to not think about soccer too much," Saravia says. "To relax our minds, relax our heads and start to prepare for the next game.”
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Along with the individual benefits of some time off of the pitch, Saravia says using some of that time off of the field with his teammates is very important for building stronger relationships that will only benefit the Black & Gold on the field.
"Team bonding is an important part of the team," he says. "It's also good if you are close off the field. You're going to perform better on the field."
Getting close to fellow Crew SC teammates is important this week for the newest member of the Black & Gold, Adam Jahn — who says the time off is an opportunity to establish relationships.
“It'll be huge. I just have a couple weeks under my belt with the guys, so hopefully we can build some chemistry and come back and win next week," Jahn says.
TICKETS: Crew SC vs. NYCFC
No matter how the Black & Gold spend their bye weekend, it is certain that a week of work has allowed for reflection and re-focus before returning to MAPFRE Stadium on August 13 to host the current leaders of the East, New York City FC.
