There's a lot going on at Talen Energy Stadium.
After a brief break to accommodate the Copa America Centenario, the Philadelphia Union went back to their typical training schedule on Monday morning. The team starts U.S. Open Cup play against the Harrisburg City Islanders this Wednesday, before resuming the MLS calendar with a road trip to Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
Jim Curtin's team is currently on a franchise-record eight-game unbeaten run, which began about seven weeks ago.
The head coach spoke with reporters about a variety of topics after Monday's session.
Philly Voice: Did you guys enjoy the break? Or did you want to get back out here since the team has been playing so well?
Curtin: There are mixed feelings. I think it's important, right around the midway point (of the season) for the guys to get away and recharge the batteries and get some rest. That part was good. We've done a good job of maintaining fitness and pushing it a little bit harder. We've worked a lot on situational things - how we play when we're up a goal, or down a goal, or in certain moments, maybe even down a man or up a man. We were able to get a great exercise (Sunday) against the reserves from the men's national team, who needed some minutes before they head out there to Seattle. We had a good game with them, just so that our first game back isn't a shock to the system because there has been a bit of downtime.
Overall it's been good. Being able to watch a lot of games and watch a lot of practices has been beneficial for myself, selfishly, as a coach. We're doing a lot of scouting in different things and we can always improve our roster. At the same time, our guys put in a really hard week of training.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Where did you play the reserves?
Curtin: It was here (the Union training complex). Jurgen Klinsmann wanted to push some of the guys who hadn't gotten minutes and we found a way to do that and help them out.
Delco Times: When you have a long break like this, it this the time to tinker with some stuff? I know in the midfield you mentioned that you had some things you wanted to work on.
Curtin: Sure. We've looked at some different things, and it needs to be said that on the days when we get Ilsinho, and Tranquillo Barnetta, and Roland Alberg on the same team together, that in the attacking part of the field you see some pretty good action to goal. You're experimenting with things like that, and part of it is just getting them all healthy and fully fit and on the field together. That's something that we're striving for because they're all good attacking guys.
Philadelphia Inquirer: I know this is a crazy question, but Andre Blake finishes Copa America play (Monday) night. Is there any chance for him to play Wednesday?
Curtin: He'll be on the first flight out. We'll have him back here and then we'll have to make a decision as to what's best for Wednesday night. But he'll be here.
Philly Voice: You mentioned you were keeping an eye on these Copa America games. Did you see what you wanted to see? What were your takeaways?
Curtin: Yea, obviously Tuesday night Chile vs. Panama is another one that we'll have close eyes on. It's good to have it here in Philly. It's good to see the training sessions. You get to know different coaches better. You get to meet with different people and dig a bit. Obviously, you recognize and identify guys as good soccer players, but we want to get to know them as people as well. The convenience of having so many games in Philadelphia has been a big benefit for us. Obviously, it's great for the city too, in terms of growing the game. I thought the atmosphere, 50,000 people, put on a good show for the city. I think it actually played a big role in helping the U.S. hang on and giving them a lot of hope and belief to protect a one-goal lead while down a man. Credit to the Philadelphia soccer community for that night. It was special.
Philadelphia Inquirer: The U.S. Open Cup, in the previous two years you were down in the standings and the open cup was your Super Bowl. Does the mindset change this year?
Curtin: No. We're going to treat it again as if there are two major trophies you can win. I say it all the time; there's the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. We're going to try to win both of them. It's different this year since we're towards the top of the league. But it's still an important competition and one that we'll take seriously. We do have a deeper team this year, that's for sure. When you look down the bench, we can go to some guys without there being much dropoff. Harrisburg has a good team coming in. We'll respect them. A lot of our guys have gotten their start in Harrisburg, so we owe them a lot. But they're the enemy when they come in here Wednesday night and we'll look to get a win and move on. Survive and advance is the way of the open cup.
Philadelphia Inquirer: You probably don't want to give too much away, but it sounds like you're going to play a lot of your frontline.
Curtin: We'll see. We don't want to just change all eleven guys. There will be a few opportunities for guys who haven't logged a ton of minutes to show. I think they've earned that over the course of the training. Again, I think it's important to keep pushing the right way. I think our guys are starting to understand each other really well, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The back four, we've been keeping some continuity there. But yea, there will be a mix. We'll ask some guys to step up for us like I know they will. We'll go from there, but we do put a big emphasis on winning the open cup.
Philadelphia Inquirer: How is Josh Yaro doing?
Curtin: Good. I think if you told me where was a playoff game tomorrow, would Josh be able to play? I'd say he would. We're being a little cautious with the shoulder. It's 'uncomfortable' for him, is probably the best way to put it. It will be (a few days) before he does exercises that involve contact. Then we'll have him back as a full participant in training.
Delco Times: I know it's been rough for Jamaica at the Gold Cup, but what have you seen from Andre? It seems like he turned some heads with some of the saves he made.
Curtin: Yea, listen, he's a great goalkeeper. I thought Andre, in the first game with Venezuela, they were a bit unlucky with the red card. Then if you go back and watch Mexico, that game they actually had eight to ten chances to get a goal. I thought they had the better of the play against a really good Mexico team that basically had a home game in California. It's a great environment for him to play in. To perform in an environment with 80,000 people against you is not an easy task. It's important for his growth to play in a big game like that. I hope he finishes (against Uruguay) on a high note. I hope he comes back to us even sharper than he was before.
Philly Voice: Harrisburg used to be a partner, now Bethlehem Steel takes their place. How would you describe your relationship with Bill Becher and what can you say about the job he's done out there?
Curtin: First and foremost, it needs to be said that Bill Becher does a heck of a job with limited resources and a limited salary budget. He gets the most out of his time and finds himself fighting for the playoffs, and as recently as a few years ago, playing in a final. He makes the most out of what he has. He develops players and does a great job in that regard. I'm grateful for Ken Tribbett and Richie Marquez and the seasons those guys got out there. It's a great organization that they have there and Bill is the face of it. They have a real way of upsetting teams in this competition, too. We're not going into this just thinking that we're going to walk on the field and get a win. They're a dangerous team and they've ended a lot of MLS clubs' runs in the open cup and we don't want that to happen to us.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Is there a little bit more pressure because of that? Because they have nothing to lose?
Curtin: It's a big match for them, and I've warned my guys all week. This is their chance to make a statement, that they should be playing in MLS. There are familiar faces there that we know. There will be some guys with a chip on their shoulder. The biggest key in these games is playing at a tempo and a speed that they're not used to handling. If you allow them to start early, and get some confidence, and you're sluggish with the ball, then they get more and more belief. So you can't let them hang around at all. Fortunately, we're on our home field and we'll have our fans behind us on a big playing surface. We'll have to take care of business.
Delco Times: Anything else on the injury front? I guess guys like Ilsinho are back up to the full fitness?
Curtin: Yea, which is good. Everybody is back, with the exception of Maurice Edu and Josh with the shoulder. He's out as well.
Philadelphia Inquirer: So Josh will be out Wednesday?
Curtin: Yea, safe to say, he won't play Wednesday. And Eric Ayuk is with Cameroon. He's flying back now. He scored a goal for them, which is good.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Mo is doing a little more out here, yeah?
Curtin: Yea, he's moving around better. He's out striking the ball, you know, a 40- to 50-yard ball on the ground which is important just for his confidence, to be able to know that he can do it and that the leg will hold up. He's at that stage of things right now. You're seeing more smiling from him just because he's back on the ball. All players want to be out with the team. They want to be on the ball. He's already itching, asking if he can get in on possession (drills) but we're sticking to the advice of the medical staff with that. He's still a little bit away, but progressing nicely.