SAN JOSE, Calif. – Few teams in MLS are experiencing a similar fine run of form like Matias Almeyda's San Jose Earthquakes. This 6-1-4 stretch is even more remarkable considering the Western Conference side began the year with four straight losses and ended the 2018 season with a league-low 21 points from a 4-21-9 record.
As upbeat as the vibe around San Jose might be, the Quakes will be thoroughly tested in July with six games scheduled during a 24-day span. That all begins Wednesday with the club’s first visit to Allianz Field to play Minnesota United FC. Just three days later, back in San Jose, Real Salt Lake will look to exploit a well-traveled opponent.
To cope with the hectic schedule, defender Florian Jungwirth anticipates San Jose relying on their fitness.
“I remember the last few years in MLS, when you had a game on Wednesday and the other team didn't, there was always a big disadvantage,” Jungwirth said.
"Now, we played better than them in the second half," Jungwirth added. "Remember, we did the same thing at [FC] Dallas because we were more fit. That's a big part of our game. I'm sure we are one of the fittest teams, maybe the fittest."
Having scored five goals and conceding none in their last two games, the Earthquakes enter as one of the league's more balanced and deep teams. A sign of that is competition for minutes and nine different goal-scorers in 2019.
So, if this tight schedule were to question the Earthquakes’ sharp fitness, there's a good chance someone is ready in line, hoping to prolong the team's positive spell.
"It's their problem, not mine," said Almeyda on his selection situation ahead of his team's trip to Minnesota. "I'm the one who makes decisions, and the decisions I make are for the best of the team. I've spoken very clearly to the players; I don't accept long faces when they don't play. Everyone needs to be positive and be ready like these guys were when it's their turn to play."
