Real Salt Lake Returns Glad, Ochoa & Herrera From International Duty

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It has been well documented now, the US under-23 squad failed to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and David Ochoa, Justen Glad, and Aaron Herrera experienced the heartbreak together.

However, the silver lining following their failed bid is that the trio can now fixate all of their attention on the upcoming MLS season. They will not be missing a large chunk of the season at the Olympics.

“Using that experience to better myself and better the team is going to be huge I think,” Justen Glad said.

RSL needs all the help and assistance they can receive in 2021. The pressure is mounting on the administration, coaching staff, and playing group to perform after the 2020 campaign ended poorly.

They're back

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 6, 2021

Furthermore, the young trio returns to RSL with a better understanding of what it takes to win. Athletes often speak about how losses teach you more about yourself, they further motivate you to succeed. The pain of losing adds to the enjoyment of winning.

If anything, Ochoa, Glad, and Herrera can use the heartbreaking loss as added motivation to prove their worth in 2021 for RSL.

All three players played well whilst on international duty, with Glad receiving CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament Best XI honors. Ochoa and Herrera were both very influential throughout the tournament as well.

It is a big year for RSL as the club is looking to respond from an incredibly disappointing 2020 campaign. The club is without an owner. Manager Freddy Juarez is yet to prove his worth, and the club is attempting to revitalize the soccer community in Utah.

Through the clubs 16 MLS seasons to date, it has never been faced with as much adversity as it was during 2020.

“I kind of look at it as a redemption year,” Glad said when asked what he is looking forward to the most in 2021. “Not making the playoffs last year stung, and I am excited for the opportunity to get back and to prove something to the league that we are a playoff team at a minimum,” he added.