The team switched it up for training on Monday. It was the first time during the trip training was held at a different facility other than Club Atlas Colomos. But fortunately Monday’s setting was very similar. The team went to another Club Atlas campus, this one called Club Atlas Chapalita. It was similar to Colomos, with lots of greenery and clay-colored buildings, soccer fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, even a basketball court. And it was in Guadalajara too, not far from the team’s hotel.
Today’s session was light as the team recovers from playing a full 90-minute scrimmage against Celaya FC yesterday. On Monday, the players spent time stretching and got in some light conditioning. Then, they competed in 3-v-3 games of soccer tennis where they had to send the ball over the net using three touches or fewer. Players got to practice heading the ball over the net. Danny Centeno nearly pulled off a bicycle kick.
After the session, the team scattered around the field for some free play. Some guys took long-range shots on goal, some juggled, some worked on their passing. Matheus Rossetto stepped in goal to fill the spot of a keeper. Then, Franco Ibarra.
A trio of Homegrowns -– George Campbell, Caleb Wiley, Tyler Wolff – worked on their one-touch passing in a small space. Some of the players just talked. Ronald Hernández checked in on his teammate Marcelino Moreno, who's recovering from a foot injury.
For about 30 minutes, it was like watching kids on a playground, so many different activities going on at once. It was warm and bright, and there were moments when I forgot it was February. The weather, the atmosphere -- it all made it feel like summer.
After training, the guys changed, but instead of climbing into the vans to return to the hotel as they've been doing, we all stayed at Club Atlas Chapalita. Nearby, the club had put together a barbecue for us. The cafeteria was decorated with colorful fiesta banners. Tables were set with thick, terracotta plates painted with a small design around the edges. Mariachi music played softly in the background.
When we arrived at our table, there were already bowls of food – salsas, guacamole, chips, sandwiches – that we thought this was our meal. But as it turned out there was a whole lot more going on in the back of the room. A full-sized grill cooking up ribeye and chorizo. Handmade tortillas. Tortilla soup, fresh vegetables, olives, a corn mixed with a little mayonnaise, sour cream and cheese that you eat with a spoon. It was some of the best food we've had the entire trip.
The dinner had even more: desserts. Churros, pecan and vanilla ice cream, a unique beverage called tejuino that is really difficult to describe (I literally have no comparison for it). It’s made of fermented corn, lemon, and salt and is a local delicacy in Jalisco.
Next to the dinner tables were a couple games the guys played on after dinner. Machop Chol and Moreno played foosball against each other. The guys crowded around the one ping pong table and took turns. A lot of them were really good, including Rossetto and Noah Cobb who went 1-v-1 in what looked like the World Championships of table tennis. Moreno got some help and played a doubles match, then celebrated a point with almost more excitement than he does scoring a goal.
Finally, we got to celebrate our videographer, Edwin Hernandez, whose birthday was yesterday. At his table, he got a chocolate cake and, orchestrated by Gonzalo Pineda, the whole team gathered around to sing 'Happy Birthday' to him. (And luckily for Edwin, he escaped without having to wear any cake on his face.)
It was a fun afternoon for the players the day after a physical scrimmage. Tomorrow, there will be a special team activity before training ramps up on Wednesday, so stay tuned at ATLUTD.com/mexico and ATLUTD on Twitter for more coverage.
While we were in Mexico, we learned about the death of Christian Carrillo. Carrillo was a member of Atlanta United’s academy program and played goalkeeper for the U-15 team. We were devastated to hear this news. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
