Real Salt Lake Content With Formation, Has No Interest In Making Drastic Changes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake manager Freddy Juarez is content with how his team is playing and has no desire to alter the formation. He made the comments following a question regarding the possibility of deploying three across the back given Toni Datković has a preferred left foot.

Teams that have the fortune of playing a center back with a preferred left foot give themselves the possibility of playing three across the back. Datković could play on the left side of the backline, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, and Aaron Herrera could all fill the void of the other two positions.

“I’m not looking at going three at the back right now,” Juarez told KSL Sports’ Tom Hackett. “The game doesn’t ask for it,” he added.

For those hoping to see #RSL deploy three across the back, you may have to wait a little longer.

Freddy is content with how his back-four is playing and has no interest in changing his formation. pic.twitter.com/mc3vreMD7t

— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) August 10, 2021

However, those plans are yet to be discussed and Juarez remains content on how his team is playing in the formation that they have deployed all season long.

Real Salt Lake line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the same formation they have used for multiple years and under multiple managers. Although, when Real Salt Lake loses the ball they quickly transition into a 4-4-2 formation.

Fortunately, Juarez has a lot of depth at the majority of positions in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Given the intense MLS schedule, the depth of the roster will likely prove pivotal down the stretch as Real Salt Lake fights for playoff acceptance in the Western Conference.

Real Salt Lake has 17 games left in the 2021 MLS season, of those 17 games, 9 of them are road games. Given the current Western Conference standings, Real Salt Lake will be required to pick up points on the road if they intend on making the playoffs.

Last year, Real Salt Lake missed out on a playoff appearance, adding to the pressure on the club to perform down the stretch this season.

Next Match

RSL will have a week to rest and prepare for their next fixture which will occur at Rio Tinto Stadium against Austin on August 14th.

The kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports & KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.