F2F: Nick Besler vs. Justin Portillo

Courtesy of Lucas MullerAs Kyle Beckerman continues to deepen his relationship with Father Time, it is probably not premature to begin looking for a permanent solution once he retires. While many argue that it will be necessary to hire any full-time replacement from outside the current Real Salt Lake roster, a prudent management team would also want to take a close look at what they have internally. Both Nick Besler and Justin Portillo were originally signed to contracts with Real Monarchs SLC, but following a single season as a defensive midfielder and team captain with the Monarchs they were signed to contracts with RSL. While different players in terms of style and background, both Nick and Justin have seen time as a replacement for an injured Beckerman during the 2019 season. This article is an attempt to examine these performances and how each stand as a backup defensive midfielder behind Kyle.

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