The locker room was subdued after a hot afternoon in Kansas City, the aftermath of Sporting KC’s scoreless draw with Columbus. The club had produced a rather lethargic outing, but even so, Sporting KC earned a point and finished the day atop the Western Conference standings. On to the next one, some thought.
As players sat in front of their respective lockers, coach Peter Vermes interrupted the quiet with a message best described as a warning. As for the next week of practice, he said, “Be ready.” Some labor-intensive days were coming.
“I think the timing of it probably caught some guys off guard, especially the ones that haven’t been with the team until this year,” Sporting KC captain Matt Besler said.