All players and staff members met at the Newark airport. Of course I was in New York City so unlike everybody else I didn't need to get a flight connecting through there, so lucky huh? Once at the airport, I met with former University of Virginia teammate and very good friend, Nico Colaluca, who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids. We had dinner together before heading to the gate, where we met the rest of the team, most of it which I already knew. Had a quick conversation with Chad [Barrett], and then got on the plane. I didn't get much sleep, but of course I had a few magazines including the best one on earth in GQ magazine! Approximately six hours later, it was Saturday morning and we were in beautiful Madrid.
Saturday (Nov. 24) -- We got on our bus and headed to Ciudad de Fútbol. We rested pretty much all day, had lunch and a quick meeting with our administrator, coach (Dominic Kinnear), and Alfonso Mondelo (Director of Player Programs for MLS). We had a very light training session for an hour, at the end we played a small scrimmage for 15 minutes in which coach divided the teams according to the MLS conference in which each player plays -- the Western Conference ended up beating us [Eastern Conference] by the smallest margin.
Sunday (Nov. 25) -- We trained in the morning, for a little bit over an hour, played another scrimmage at the end keeping the same formation, this time we won! We then hung-out in the afternoon (most of us slept knowing that we were still adjusting to the time difference). Around 5:00 p.m. we headed to the Atletico Madrid stadium to watch a "La Liga" game, Atletico Madrid versus Valladolid, which turned out to be very exciting with a score of 4-3; four of the goals were scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and the game-winning goal in the last minute of the game, good atmosphere since the home team won.
Monday (Nov. 26) -- We trained in the morning and again scrimmaged at the end and AGAIN the Eastern Conference won the game! In the afternoon, we went and visited Santiago Bernabeu (home of Real Madrid) which is one of the most beautiful stadiums I have ever seen. The most impressive part was probably the trophy room, which was filled with all kinds of trophies from La Liga titles to hardware from Champions League.
Tuesday (Nov. 27) -- We played a game against Vallecano in which both Chad and I played 90 minutes. We ended up winning 1-0, even though it could have easily been three to nothing...but a win is a win right? In the afternoon we got on the speed train (two-and-half hour ride) and headed to Sevilla to attend the Sevilla versus Arsenal game. It was the most electric crowd I had ever seen. I've been to two world cups, but this crowd was just fantastic, GREAT ATMOSPHERE!!! Sevilla won 3-1 and of course their two players from Mali (Frédéric Kanouté and Seydou Keita) scored a goal each, made the night even sweeter!
Wednesday (Nov. 28) -- Back in Madrid. We trained as soon as we got here and chilled for the rest of the day. We watched the Real Madrid Champions League game on the big screen in the lounge at our hotel.
Thursday (Nov. 29) -- played a scrimmage versus the Real Madrid reserve team and tied 0-0. Both Chad and I started the game and played 45 minutes and 90 minutes respectively. I think we had the better of the play and created numerous chances; we should have won the game. Well, at least we didn't get scored on, a tie is always better than a loss. Went back to our training complex and had lunch on our own so I went with my boy Kei Kamara to a Turkish place (delicioussssss). Got back on the bus for a guided tour of the city of Madrid! Then we all had a great Spanish tapas dinner.
Friday (Nov. 30) --Half of the group left Madrid to join the under-23 team in Los Angeles in preparation for their upcoming trip to China. Went to the Real Madrid training session and some of us stayed and took a bunch of pictures with the players. I waited to see Mahamadou Diarra (Mali's Men's National Team captain) and had a quick chat and took a few pictures with him, good times! Got back to our complex, had a quick lunch (Turkish again) and we got right back on the bus and headed to the historic city of Toledo. The architecture was fantastic, one of the most beautiful cities I ever been to. Walked for a bit and visited a few landmarks and back on the bus to Madrid.
Saturday (Dec. 1) -- The few of us who are still here played a small-sided game for fun, it was pretty much the "brothers" versus the "white kids", and of course we lost :-). We had a little bit of free time in which we dragged the whole group to our Turkish spot (they all loved it) and then got on our bus and went to Santiago, Bernabeu to watch the Real Madrid versus Racing Santander game. Adidas hooked us up with some of the best seats in the house. A box (unlike the States it was a box, but we were outside) right behind the teams benches in the first row by the midfield line...so sweet!! Thanks adidas! After the game we got two hours of free time to hang out around the stadium, Kei and I went to a bar, sat there to watch the Barcelona game!
Sunday (Dec. 2) -- We played a small-sided game trying to get our revenge, but no luck we got beat again. As soon as we left the field, I could hear guys saying "let's hurry and get some kebabs at the Turkish spot", we showered and headed to the mall, sure enough our whole group was sitting outside the famous Turkish place - oh well, it would be four days in a row for Kei and I. Then back to the hotel and started packing our stuff. We got to "chill" for the rest of the day! Next stop for me - Paris...
