Former D.C. United coach Ray Hudson will return to RFK Stadium for the first time since serving as the head coach of United in 2002 and 2003. Hudson, known as one of the most colorful personalities in American soccer, will fittingly serve as the color analyst for San Jose with Fox Sports Bay Area. The former skipper led the Black-and-Red to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2003 for the first time since 1999's MLS Cup Championship.
The excitement begins
The excitement is beginning, people are talking and the Black-and-Red are getting ready to host Chelsea FC in the "Clash of Champions" at FedEx Field on July 28, highlighting the four-match 2005 World Series of Football.
"We are very happy to go again. Everything was very good for us last season. The matches and the opponents we had were very useful to us," said Chelsea FC head coach Jose Mourinho of last year's preseason, during a conference call on Thursday. "It is very, very good for us to build our group for the season and we look forward to it."
Chelsea is one of the world's finest soccer clubs and will bring their best to compete against United. Included on Chelsea's roster for the World Series of Football are superstars John Terry, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben, Hernan Crespo and Dieder Drogba, among numerous others.
"I'm sure it will be a great experience for all - for my players, for the fans, and the soccer community in Washington D.C.," said D.C. United head coach Peter Nowak.
Both teams come into the match hoping to get a win, as "no one likes to lose," said Mourinho. "Sometimes its not bad to lose, especially in a preseason friendly. You can build on the field, you can build on bad matches, and you can build on mistakes. If we have a bad result against them, it will be a challenge to improve."
Rescheduled Open Cup game
Following a two-hour delay, Wednesday night's U.S. Open Cup game between the Richmond Kickers and the Ocean City Barons was postponed due to lightening. The game will now be played on July 19. D.C. United will take on the winner in the third round of play on August 3.
