Eric Ramsay has revealed what excites him most about Minnesota United’s squad as they prepare for the new season.
Despite being linked with the managerial vacancy at Swansea City, the head coach remains focused on shaping a competitive squad.
And the preseason has given him the opportunity to evaluate his options within the team.
Minnesota United enjoyed a fair run of preseason results. It commenced with a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake before demolishing Sporting Kansas City 6-0.
This was then followed by a 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy, and they ended the preseason with a 1-0 loss to New York City FC.
The results obviously don’t paint the full picture. However, Ramsay did use the preseason to try out some of his ideas before their season opener against LAFC on February 23 at the BMO Stadium.
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What excites him
Speaking to the club media just days before the new season, Ramsay has outlined what excites him most about this squad.
He is confident the team now has the right balance of youth and experience and can be competitive enough.
His focus has been on flexibility, squad depth, and a strong work ethic within the team.
“We have flexibility built into the squad now. We have exciting forwards with different attributes and healthy competition. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to work in much detail with the new guys due to various circumstances. But post-Leagues Cup last year, we were super competitive, hard to beat, athletic, and hungry. We’ve brought the average age down and now have a strong balance of players between 22-27, with a few senior players to support them. There’s a great working culture and a very coachable group, which is key.”
This statement shows how he trusts in his squad’s ability to compete.
Even though some new signings are yet to be fully integrated, Ramsay believes adapting will be easy because of the team’s work ethic.
He aims to ensure the Loons remain a tough opponent throughout the season.
CS opinion
The manager’s vision is clear. He wants a competitive and flexible squad. Although some preseason results were discouraging, the attention was on testing tactics, not winning games.
If the boys can translate this hunger into the season, many teams could be in for a surprise.