ASN: After profitable 2018 season, Canouse goals to seal USMNT spot in January

Probably the most attention-grabbing gamers at January camp is defensive midfielder Russell Canouse who’s aiming to construct off his profitable 2018 season with DC United and earn a spot on the U.S. nationwide staff.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 10, 2019
3:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES nationwide staff is coming into in a brand new period, a brand new cycle, with a brand new coach. The gamers all have a contemporary slate and supervisor Gregg Berhalter is utilizing this camp to judge gamers and see who may very well be a match for the staff shifting ahead.

One of many gamers with a variety of potential to make use of this camp is midfielder Russell Canouse, 23, who enters into the camp on the heels of a wild 2018 the place he missed the primary half of the season with a knee damage, performed very effectively within the second half of the season to assist lead DC United to the playoffs, acquired married after Christmas and went on his honeymoon in Mexico (which he additionally spent coaching and making ready for the nationwide staff camp).

“Being able to get this opportunity after a tough season with really highs and really low points of my career, this is good. I am really excited to be here and ready to work my hardest. Last season started off well with January camp and it was a good experience being there. The knee injury happened and it took awhile to get back. but the season ended well. I was able to get back and make an impact with the team and make a run into the playoffs.”

Canouse was dissatisfied final yr to not earn his first camp when interim head coach Dave Sarachan referred to as him into camp however didn’t choose him to play. However the Lancaster native admits that he used that as motivation to play effectively in 2018 to get one other alternative with the nationwide staff.

What makes Canouse an attention-grabbing participant to observe on this camp is that in the meanwhile there’s a clear alternative for him to maneuver forward at his place. The nationwide staff has a variety of central midfielders in the meanwhile however few are devoted defensive midfielders. High younger gamers like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams can play as defensive midfielders however characteristic primarily as box-to-box gamers. Canouse excelled for DC United the place he received balls, shielded the backline, and was crisp in his passing – and these are attributes he believes can match effectively into Berhalter’s system which is predicated on disrupting the opponent and making fast transitions into the assault.

“I am very excited to learn his system and style of play,” Canouse mentioned. “I think it is similar to what I grew up playing in Germany at Hoffenheim and in terms of what our Dutch coach implemented at Bochum in the 2.Bundesliga. I am excited and ready to learn a lot from him and pick up the knowledge as quick as possible so I can gel into the team and into his system right away.”

“It’s the national team we’re talking about,” he continued. “Any position there is always going to be competition. You’re trying to represent your country and be one of the best players your country has to offer. The competition is normal. In terms of my position, being a true No. 6 defensive midfielder – a guy who can clog the lanes and start the attack from a deeper position, I think those are all things I am very capable of. I’ll try to prove that in this upcoming camp and prove I belong here.”

Whereas 2018 put Canouse firmly again on the radar for the nationwide staff, 2019 shall be a crucial yr to remain in high kind for each membership and nation. Expectations are larger for DC United his yr after the membership’s surge within the second half of the season – which was aided by the addition of Wayne Rooney, the return of Russell Canouse, and the favorable schedule which noticed nearly all of its video games the ultimate few months performed at its model new stadium, Audi Area.

Continued success might additionally open up additional doorways for Canouse.  In 2011, Canouse moved to Germany to signal with Hoffenheim when he was a young person. Accidents slowed him down at key moments, such because the 2015 U-20 World Cup (the place he has been the staff’s captain in the course of the cycle), and DC United approached him with an attractive supply.

As many younger People who’ve made the transfer to Germany lately, Canouse did it at a time when it wasn’t as frequent however regardless of its difficulties, he believed it helped him develop tremendously.

“Moving to Germany at such a young age is a unique situation,” Canouse defined. “It’s something that made me uncomfortable at an early which caused me to grow and mature at a faster rate than if I stayed stateside. It’s what made me the player I am today because I did learn a lot. I was involved in a lot of different systems, tactically, with different coaches that were moving up the ranks. For some players, it is not the right move. Maybe they’re not ready mentally yet to learn a new language or culture and all the other off-field things you need take care of first before you even step foot on the field to feel comfortable and truly improve as a player. I think I was able to do that.”

“Obviously moving to DC was an important step for me,” he added. “I grew up in the Hoffenheim system. I got some good playing time at Bochum on loan but the opportunity came to sign with DC United and I had to weigh a lot of different issues like playing time. I got the chance to come back to DC and make an impact and further myself in terms of my development in a league that is up and coming and improving every single year. Overall, I’ve been pretty happy with my decision. It’s put me back on the map with regards to the national team.”

As for his future past DC United, Canouse can also be fast to level out {that a} potential return to Europe is feasible and that he considers all affords – which may very well be important with a full and profitable season with DC United in addition to a spot on the nationwide staff.

“I am definitely open to all options,” Canouse identified. “It always comes back to being happy and being at a place where you can develop. I am happy with DC and I am enjoying my time there. There is always an opportunity to possibly go abroad and I’ll consider every option. I am not keeping it closed. It might come at the right time. But for now, I am looking forward to the season with DC and trying to get back to the playoffs.”