With inclement weather taking hold throughout the week at Houston Sports Park, Dynamo interim head coach Davy Arnaud was forced to take a different approach on practicing Tuesday morning.
Instead of working on tactics or set pieces for this weekendās crucial match against Orlando City, the Dynamo ending up participating in a 5 v 5 soccer tennis tournament to get their competitive juices flowing while lightening the mood after a tough loss on the weekend.
āListen, you have to go find the moments to do that because this is so supposed to be fun. What weāre doing is a privilege,ā Arnaud said. āI feel as players, you play at your best when youāre enjoying yourself, when youāre playing with joy, when youāre playing with confidence, I think thatās how you get the best out of people.ā
Divided into four squads, the Dynamo players competed in two round-robin games before the two undefeated sides squared off. Not surprisingly, captain DaMarcus Beasley's team won the "championship." The title-winning squad was comprised of Beasley, Tommy McNamara, Maynor Figueroa, Memo Rodriguez and Mauro Manotas.
āYou know obviously, itās not ideal weather, it changed our plans a little bit today. We wouldāve been outside, and it could be the situation all week for us," Arnaud said. "Itās not good weather, but we talked about it this morning and said, 'Listen, we have to be flexible in what weāre going to do this week.'ā
Though the Dynamo are vying for a spot in the MLS playoffs with four matches to play, the mood today was light. Coming off a tough 2-1 loss on the road at Vancouver, the players werenāt dwelling on what couldāve been. Even as the weather threw a wrench in their plans to get out on the pitch, they were competing, diving for loose balls and challenging every point - adapting to the situation at hand.
āYou have to keep reiterating, believing in the process, and believing in what weāre trying to do and what weāre trying to build,ā Arnaud said. āThe planning and the mentality, and the approach it doesnāt change. It needs to be tweaked based on if weāre on the grass or the turf. Itās not an easy situation, but weāll approach it the same way and get ready for Orlando.ā
The Dynamo are back in action this Saturday night at 7:30 PM when Orlando City comes to BBVA Stadium for Soccer Kicks Cancer Night.