Adu healthy, happy in first preseason with Union
22-year-old MF over nagging ankle injury, eager to prove himself
February 6, 2012
philadelphiaunion.com
WAYNE, Pa. – Following a recent training session at YSC Sports, Freddy Adu had a smile planted on his face.
Perhaps because he knows that for the first time in three years, he'll have a full preseason to properly prepare for the season ahead.
“I’m 100 percent healthy and 100 percent in with everything here," Adu told philadelphiaunion.com. "For me, when I’m having fun, when I’m happy and energized, that’s when I play my best soccer. Right now, I’m in a good place and I’m definitely going to aim to keep it going.
“I think my teammates feed off that. They like to see the passion in practice. That passion trickles down to everybody and I think it makes everybody want to keep it going.”
Adu signed with the Union on Aug. 12, 2011, on a free transfer from Benfica. He played in 11 matches and logged 609 minutes, scoring two goals and adding an assist while playing through a nagging ankle injury that had him at less than 60 percent, according to manager Peter Nowak.
The addition of Adu created quite a bit of buzz throughout MLS and the international soccer community.
Not only was it a reunion between Adu and his first professional coach, but it was potentially an addition that would spark an inconsistent Union attack.
Adu's ankle prevented him from playing up to his potential, but Nowak belives the jury is still out.
“He didn’t play as expected,” Nowak said. “Some people drew their own conclusions and thought maybe he didn’t care.”
How about now?
“He looks very good,” Nowak said. “I was very impressed with his work ethic. He’s sliding, tackling people. He’s not afraid out there.”
Adu became the youngest American athlete to sign a major league contract in more than a century when he joined Nowak at D.C. United as the No. 1 one overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Adu was a member of the ‘04 MLS Cup championship squad and finished the season with five goals and three assists.
So much has happened to the two-time MLS All-Star since ’04.
Most recently, Adu joined teammates Zac MacMath, Jack McInerney, Amobi Okugo and Sheanon Williams for a U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in preparation for Olympic qualifying in March.
Before impressing with the senior team in the most recent CONCACAF Gold Cup, Adu was one of the top U-20 players coached by Nowak in the ‘08 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Right now, though, Adu is focused solely on his first full season with the new-look Union.
“I haven’t felt this good since I joined Philadelphia,” Adu said. “I wasn’t 100 percent since Day One. On top of that ankle, I was having little problems that not a lot of people knew about. It held me back a little throughout the season. I’m finally healthy and didn’t have an offseason and I’m glad I didn’t. I kept working and kept working and kept training and kept training.
“Now, as a result, I came in here healthy. That’s important for me personally. We made a lot of changes here on the team. I have to be one of the guys to step it up and help the guys out.”
As one would expect, Adu admitted he’s much more comfortable starting in preseason training with the club as opposed to joining his new teammates midway through the season.
“When I came in here in the middle of the season, it was a little different,” Adu said. “Now, I get a whole preseason under my belt. Last year, I knew Peter, I knew (coach John) Hackworth, but I didn’t know some of my teammates as well. There was some catching up and a period needed to get integrated in the team and to get to know my teammates and for them to get to know me.
“Everybody now is familiar with each other and I think I’m very, very comfortable coming into this new season.”
The way to tell he’s comfortable? That smile won’t go away.
“I’m just so happy to be back,” Adu said. “I’m healthy and hopefully it stays that way. I’m working extremely hard to stay that way all season. It’s about the little things, the stretching, the weightlifting here and there, to keep your body going. I’m really looking forward to the season and getting a fresh start.”