HANOVER, N.J. (February 19, 2016) – New York Red Bulls II held the team’s first training session of 2016 today at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover, N.J. Despite chilly temperatures, Red Bulls II players and coaches began preparations for the 2016 USL season.
“We did some strength work, some technical work and played a little bit,” Wolyniec said after training. “It’s nice this year having some guys that were here last year and just trying to keep those guys up to speed.”
The NYRB II head coach elaborated on the focus of training sessions early in preseason, and stressed the importance of getting guys back to full fitness for the season ahead.
“We focus on getting guys back in shape, not going to hard or too fast out of the gate to make sure guys are physically prepared to handle some of our harder sessions,” Wolyniec said. “But at the same time trying to instill, especially in some of the news guys and some of the trialists, what we’re about, what our philosophy is about and what we’re looking for from the players.”
Among the returning Red Bulls II players was Dan Metzger, who participated in his first training session with the club since undergoing season-ending knee surgery last summer. Although he is not yet at 100 percent, Wolyniec was impressed with his first day back.
“Dan’s coming along great and he looks really good,” Wolyniec noted. “He’s at that point where it’s getting those final few steps and making him feel comfortable about what he’s doing. I think he’s done enough strengthening to feel comfortable about the injury and now it’s more just bring him along at the right pace.
“We’ll see how much he can do [with him] and at the same time going at his speed. We want just want to bring him along a little bit, but he looks very good, very fit and very strong.”
Red Bulls II will continue preseason training at the Red Bulls Training Facility and hold three closed-door friendlies against Maryland, Bethlehem Steel FC and Harrisburg City Islanders.
