Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler spoke to local and national media on Wednesday, addressing the current suspension of the 2020 MLS season and the beginning of individual player workouts at MLS training facilities. His full remarks are below.
Opening statement on the first day of voluntary individual workouts:
“Driving into our training facility this morning, it felt great. We haven't had, you know, too much to look forward to lately, especially in terms of soccer. So I think this is uplifting news for everyone and much needed.”
On what it was like to be on the field, but able to interact with teammates only on a limited basis:
“It was different, obviously, because we're limited in what we can do. I would say that it's what I expected. You know, I don't know if you've been able to watch the protocol video yet, but it was pretty much just like that.
“We sat down as a team and watched that video together on Zoom, and made sure everybody understood the expectations and how things were going to run. And if anyone had questions, you know, the questions were asked, but it pretty much went exactly like the video was shown.
“And to be honest with you, it felt a lot better than I thought it was going to feel. You know, I had questions myself going into this morning about just going out to a field as an individual, just how much I would be able to get out of that workout. But I was blown away with just how good it felt to be back out on the field. So I think it's a huge positive. I think we all understand that getting back to games is going to be a gradual process, and at first there might be some rules and guidelines that seem over the top, but if it means getting back on the field quicker, I think everyone is more than willing to follow, because, you know, I personally got to feel what it was like to step on a field again, and to wear cleats and to be outside and have a ball at my feet, and it was awesome. So I think it's a really good step that we made today.”
“I wasn't apprehensive at all. Mostly excitement to be able to have this opportunity. On whether he was apprehensive going onto the field, given the safety measures in place, and on how his international teammates are coping: You ask a good question about our foreign teammates, and that's something that we've focused on a lot during this time, just trying to communicate as much as possible because everyone is in a different situation, and being in a foreign country during a time like this, there's certain challenges that go along with that. I also think it's difficult because the timing of when this took place is right at the beginning of the season. So we have a lot of new players that have just got to Kansas City, and they literally just moved into their new home or their new apartment. So they had only been living here for about two weeks, and now they have had to stay home and practice social distancing. It's a tough time to try and acclimate to a new city where you are uncomfortable, but again, I mean, I think our team has done a really good job of communicating expectations and just making sure everybody is as comfortable as possible. And if somebody isn't, then, you know, going through the things we need to go through to help them out. But I would say for the most part, everybody on our team is in. They are excited to be able to have this opportunity. I think one thing to kind of mention is every situation is different. I can only really speak for what it's like here in Kansas City the feelings that we have as a team. Other teams might feel different. Other cities have different rules and regulations and a total different feeling. Me personally, I am; I'm comfortable returning, and I'm comfortable returning to normal life. I think my ZIP code that I live in, the last I checked, which was two days ago, it has seven confirmed positive cases. For me, that doesn't seem like the risk is as high as some other places.”
On the importance of the safety protocols:
“On this protocol we had as a team, I think we all just understand the importance of making sure that we take the protocol seriously and that we follow the video that was laid out. Because there is some responsibility for all the teams who are returning, and starting to do this individual training. Because I think everybody – we have to take our first step, and this is the first step. And so we have to make sure that we do it the right way, because if we don't, then, you know, we're not going to be able to take the next step, and that's what everybody wants. So like I said, I understand that it's a small step. It's just individual training, but at the same time, there's a lot of excitement within the group to be able to make this step. I think the time is right. And yeah, I think we just all have to be responsible with it and hopefully the results will go well, and we can move on and continue to push forward.”
On the addition of Alan Pulido to the Sporting Kansas City squad:
“Alan Pulido has done an excellent job so far. We've only played two games, but right from the very first day he came in, it was clear that he wanted to be a part of our team and he wanted to win. And those are two really important qualities to have, especially on our team. So that was great to see. And he's acclimated a lot faster than I thought he would. Sometimes, you know, we play a certain style, and sometimes it takes players, especially foreign players, at least a few months to kind of figure out how we play. But it seems like he's clicked from the very first practice, and the results so far show that. So he's been really good. I've enjoyed getting to know him, and definitely enjoyed being on the field with him.”
On what the individual workouts look like, and what kinds of exercises can be performed alone:
“So the great thing about these workouts – again, this was only the first day, so I can only really speak to kind of what it was like today – but we were able to do a lot of the things that we aren't able to do at home, if that makes sense. When you're at home, you can work out, but there's only so much you can do. When you're on the field and you're in your quadrant and you have a ball at your feet, there's just so much more you can do in terms of ball work. So a couple examples that we were doing was just simply juggling. Juggling for 30 seconds and then you take a little break and then you juggle again, you try and get some touches on the ball, and then the second part of the workout was just the individual fitness part of it. Those were kind of focused on a lot shorter runs, the sprints, which, again, is something that you can't really do at home. You know, you can have a treadmill or a bike at home, or you can even go on a longer run sometimes through your neighborhood, but it's really hard to get like the sprints and the change of direction, and so that's what this opportunity is providing a lot of us, which is awesome.”
On what talk there is among the team on completing the season:
“First of all, there hasn't been any talk in our locker room because we haven't been in our locker room for a while. So the only talk is through Zoom meetings like this and through social media and like text threads. But so I don't really feel comfortable kind of like speaking for our team because I'm not with our team every single day, and I don't really have like a good pulse. But I can speak how I feel. I want to play as many games as possible. I know the league is doing a really good job of just trying to figure out the options right now for us to do that. I think that's something that the owners and the players are both on the same page about. I think we all want to try and play as many games as possible, and we want to finish out our season. I don't know exactly if that's possible or what that could look like, but I can tell you that, you know, from both sides, we're going to try and do everything we can to do that.”
On how often he’ll be returning to the facility and training:
"Again, I don't have confirmation of that, but I've heard that somewhere around four days a week. So it's going to be open for us, I believe it's four times a week. Not exactly sure what days those are, but if I had to guess it could look something like, you know, Monday and Tuesday, you're able to go in if you want. Wednesday off, and then Thursday, Friday, you can go in if you want again, and then the weekend will be off. Again, I think it's the right move to open up our training facilities because we're programmed to work out, and as professional athletes, that's in our DNA. It's not like you can just tell us to stop working out. I just don't think that's going to happen. There's only so much you can do at home and eventually players are going to go and find another solution because working out is how we make our living, and our careers depend on whether or not we stay fit. So providing a safe environment for us to go and do that is, to me, a big step forward and one that totally makes since.”
On the possibility of playing the season in a “bubble”, with all teams quarantined in a single location:
“That's a tough question, because there's just so many possibilities that we don't really know exactly what's going to happen. I mean, I'll go back to what I said before about just wanting to play as many games as possible and finish the season. I don't know exactly what that's going to look like. I don't think we're going to be able to just snap our finger and start playing games in front of fans and have it be exactly like it was before all this. I think it's going to be a process – and again, I mean, if we have to play games in front of no fans to start, I don't think that's ideal. I don't think every player wants to play games in front of fans than not play games with fans. I think it's interesting for us because there's other things that are happening around the world right now in other leagues, and we're certainly going to keep our eye on that. And I think what's going on in Germany and over in England and Spain and all the other leagues, really, I think it's going to be a collective effort just to kind of see all the different ideas that people have and what works and maybe what doesn't work. I'm confident that whatever does happen and whatever the solution is going to be, I think the players' voices will be heard in terms of being comfortable about returning to play. I don't think the league or the owners are just going to say, all right, we're going to do it this way, this is what we decided. I do think that goes going to be some conversation amongst everyone in trying to get the players' input on how we feel about whatever the options are.”
On the safety and health protocols he went through for the training session:
“So we got to our facility, and first of all, when we park our cars, we have to park – there's designated parking spots for the players, and they are like three or four parking spots away from everyone; so your car is just like sitting alone. And then you have to wait in your car until you get the OK from one of our trainers who is kind of like standing at this table. That's basically to make sure that no one else is around. Once you get the OK, you can get out of your car. You're wearing a mask. You go in and they take your temperature at this table. Then after your temperature is taken, we wash our hands, and then we are able to go back on the field. I could explain everything that happened in detail, but I think the best thing to do would be to probably watch that video because that's pretty much exactly what we did.”
On discussions between the league and players’ union regarding any salary adjustment:
“So yeah, there have been ongoing discussions about that. Everything that I've heard is that, you know, both sides have communicated with each other back and forth. I think both sides have done a really good job of being open to each other. But in terms of specifics, I can't really report on that because I don't know. Unfortunately you probably have to ask somebody from the executive board, maybe someone from the league or from the June I don't know. Sorry I can't help out much with that one.”
On what matches could look like following return to play, and if there is a concern about fitness and touch and sharpness after such a layoff:
“That's a good question. I don't know. Until we get there, it's going to be hard to really predict what that's going to look like. I think that like I said, it's going to be a gradual process. I don't think we're going to open up individual training this week and then like in two weeks we're going to be playing games. I think it's going to be a longer process than that. I'm confident that the league is going to give the player pool enough time of being able to train together as a team, to be able to prepare ourselves to start playing games. I don't know. I can throw out a number, but you need probably three weeks, at a minimum, maybe four weeks at a minimum, of full team training before you can start playing games in terms of player safety and trying to get yourself as fit as possible.”
