Updates
Mon, Feb 6th 2012, 14:21
Adu healthy, happy in first preseason with Union
Following a recent training session at YSC Sports, Freddy Adu had a smile planted on his face.
Perhaps because he knows that for the first time in three years, he’ll have a full preseason to properly prepare for the season ahead.
“I’m 100 percent healthy and 100 percent in with everything here,” Adu told philadelphiaunion.com. “For me, when I’m having fun, when I’m happy and energized, that’s when I play my best soccer. Right now, I’m in a good place and I’m definitely going to aim to keep it going.
“I think my teammates feed off that. They like to see the passion in practice. That passion trickles down to everybody and I think it makes everybody want to keep it going.”
Adu signed with the Union on Aug. 12, 2011, on a free transfer from Benfica. He played in 11 matches and logged 609 minutes, scoring two goals and adding an assist while playing through a nagging ankle injury that had him at less than 60 percent, according to manager Peter Nowak.
The addition of Adu created quite a bit of buzz throughout MLS and the international soccer community.
Not only was it a reunion between Adu and his first professional coach, but it was potentially an addition that would spark an inconsistent Union attack.
Adu’s ankle prevented him from playing up to his potential, but Nowak belives the jury is still out.
“He didn’t play as expected,” Nowak said. “Some people drew their own conclusions and thought maybe he didn’t care.”