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Xavi Dussaq / courtesy of D.C. United
With his first preseason in MLS winding down, there’s no question what new D.C. United head coach Hernán Losada’s top focus is at the moment: Fitness. The topic came up numerous times throughout this week’s remote press conference, the first since the club returned to the District from a training camp in North Carolina.
“I didn’t expect to have the team so unfit,” said Losada in discussing what he had learned about the club during his first weeks in charge. That blunt assessment may come off as harsh, but Losada immediately added that “.the mindset of the players is great. They come to the club with loads of positivity, willing to work hard, willing to get better.”
Xavi Dussaq / Courtesy of D.C. United
D.C. United came out on the wrong end of a combative preseason match with NYCFC, falling to a 2-1 defeat. With the two sides playing at the Philadelphia Union’s training facility, a lone goal from rookie Kimarni Smith was sandwiched by tallies from Valentin Castellanos and Andres Jasson for City. Castellanos and United’s Junior Moreno were both sent off just before halftime in a game that had plenty of tough tackles throughout.
After accounting for several injuries, Hernán Losada sent out something close to his best available lineup. Rookie Kimarni Smith got to start up front as a striker rather than out on the flank in a 3421, with Edison Flores and Yamil Asad supporting him from dual attacking midfield roles.
D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum out until June after ankle surgery
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Birnbaum, 30, missed the final eight games of the 2020 season due to ankle trouble, and he had an initial procedure on his ankle two months ago, with the aim of having him back at full fitness by the end of the preseason. However, citing a need “to decompress nerves and remove part of the talus bone with chronic inflammation,” Birnbaum underwent this second surgery in Green Bay, WI sometime last week.
Unfortunately I had to have a second procedure on my ankle. Surgery went well! Looking forward to a speedy recovery and getting back on the field with the guys! pic.twitter.com/BeZS81KxRf Steven Birnbaum (@StevenBirnbaum) March 15, 2021
Photo by Vincent Van Doornick/Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images
D.C. United today announced the acquisition of defender Brendan Hines-Ike, who will join the Black-and-Red on a one-year loan from Belgian top-flight side KV Kortrijk. Further terms of the deal, including whether or not United holds a purchase clause, were not announced, but United does reportedly hold such an option to make the move permanent.
Rumors of the move, first reported by Steven Goff of the
Washington Post, came up over the past few weeks. In a recent piece, Goff noted that Hines-Ike has already arrived in D.C. to begin his Covid-19 quarantine period before joining the opening stages of United’s first preseason under new head coach Hernán Losada.