Despite Off Field Chaos Real Salt Lake Remains Fixated On Task At Hand Thanks To Strong Player, Coach Leadership

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has endured more drama off the field than any other club in Major League Soccer over the last few years, yet, they continue to be successful on the pitch despite the chaos that may surround them. The leaders of the team, both players and coaches, have played a big role in allowing the on-field success to continue.

Kyle Beckerman, for example, has been with the club for as long as most fans can remember and has endured just about every road bump that the club has gone through. The latest saga surrounding owner Dell Loy Hansen has been no different than the rest.

Our club, our city, our home #RSL

♥️💙💛 pic.twitter.com/qLWBDRZ5Cp

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 30, 2020

The team remains fixated on the task at hand, winning soccer games.

“The way we look at it is that we have to focus on the job at hand really,” Beckerman said. “We can’t really think too much about it.”

Beckerman is not wrong, after a heroic comeback draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, the team must prepare accordingly to host the reigning MLS Cup champions, the Seattle Sounders, this upcoming Wednesday evening.

“Our focus is on the next game and that is really where we are at right now and looking forward to the future,” Beckerman added.

Head coach Freddy Juarez shares the same sentiments. His focus has solely been on supporting the playing group and making sure that they are in the correct physical and mental state to compete for the club on the pitch.

"YEEEEEAAH" #RSL | @ford pic.twitter.com/JyAVqNJm7k

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 31, 2020

“We have just gone on with it,” Juarez said. “It has kind of become the mantra here at RSL that the last few years that I have been here there has just been things have happened and you know and my mentality has been to just keep prepping the team as if we are playing and to try to keep that stuff out as much as possible and to not bring it up.”

For now, the team appears to be doing well. The leadership from the senior players and coaches has put RSL in a position to eliminate any outside noise and distraction that may be occurring.

However, both Beckerman and Juarez acknowledged that a change in ownership will likely bring a breath of fresh air and hopefully a shift in the culture at the club which will certainly benefit the club moving forward.

Trying to get back to the days where RSL was atop the Western Conference winning the MLS Cup and annually playing in the Champions League will always be the goal for the club. New ownership can hopefully help in making that a reality.