SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake's players and coaches might not have chosen the middle of the season's busiest month to play an exhibition game.
And yet, after earning a much-needed road victory against the New England Revolution last Friday, Real will face Mexican Primera Division side Monarcas Morelia on Wednesday. The game kicks off a stretch of four games in two weeks, all of them at home in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"It's not that it's not a big game, because they are a very good team," Real coach John Ellinger said. "But, it comes right in the middle of a number of games that we've got going here."
Ellinger likely will leave veteran starters Jason Kreis, Jeff Cunningham, Eddie Pope, Chris Klein and Carey Talley off the 18-man gameday roster. Instead, he will use a much younger lineup similar to the one he used in Real's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory against the Virginia Beach Mariners on July 11.
Players like Joey Worthen, Mehdi Ballouchy, Cameron Knowles, Jay Nolly, Kenny Cutler, Willis Forko and Kevin Novak should see significant time against Monarcas.
"At lot of those guys have 10 or 15 starts this year, so it's not that bad," Ellinger said.
Regardless of what happens against Monarcas, playing the Mexican team in the middle of the busy July schedule may not be a bad thing. A win could only build Real's confidence, already on an upswing after beating the Revolution.
On the other hand, a loss cannot hurt Real in the Major League Soccer standings.
"It doesn't hurt us, but if you win it's a step in the right direction," Ellinger said.
Real goes into the game on a high note. The win against New England marked the first time the second-year team has won a season series; Real also played the Revolution to a tie on June 24.
"Our guys will bring a good energy level," Ellinger said. "After that win, and after [investor/operator Dave Checketts] spoke in the locker room afterwards, we addressed the fact that we have three league games at home plus an Open Cup game, plus this exhibition.
"But with the league games, if we're going to make a move in the standings, getting something out of the game on Friday was crucial."
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
