Wearing his fresh training kit, newly acquired midfielder Romain Gall took to the Crew's training pitch in Obetz for the first time on Monday. After completing a hard-fought session, which included small-sided games at the end, the French-American spoke to the media for the first time as a member of the Black & Gold.
"First training, I thought it went well," said Gall. "I got to be with the guys, be on the field and see the training. I need to get fit, but everything's going well."
Gregg Berhalter, who has described Gall as a dynamic attacker but also as a long-term project, echoed those sentiments.
"He did well. He needs to get fit, but he showed ability and it's going to be interesting to see him develop over the next couple of years," said the Crew boss.
Gall comes to the Crew from the youth system of FC Lorient in France, where he had been living on his own for the past three years. He moved from France with his family to Virginia when he was seven years old. That's when he played on his first organized soccer team, and it's been a successful journey for the attacking midfielder ever since.
"I think my strength is in my technical ability," said Gall. "I think I can do some different stuff on the technical side, but I also have to improve my game physically, and [my] consistency."
Gall was assigned to the Crew via MLS' weighted lottery procedure, something that was initiated while he was back home training with D.C. United.
"We were talking to my agent. He had talked to MLS and [they] had brought up the lottery. We were like, 'Why not?' I went in the lottery, and Columbus Crew picked me up."
Gall, who said that he had been to Columbus as a child after playing for an academy that was affiliated with the team, knew only Wil Trapp prior to his arrival last week.
"I grew up playing with [Trapp] for a couple of years. He's a great guy. I've always looked up to him as well, so it should be great to play with him again."
After his first successful training session, Gall knows he has to get his body MLS-ready, but says that he loves the style of play that the Crew utilizes.
"I definitely want to get on the field as soon as I can, but everything is supposed to be timed well. If I need to get fit for my performances to be better, then I have to get fit. There will be no frustration with that because that's just part of how it is, but as soon as I'm fit, I just hope to play."
