It’s been two weeks since Minnesota United has played a game. Two weeks for the Loons to get healthy and prepare themselves both mentally and physically. As it turns out, the break came at an opportune time for a team with a few players in need of recuperation.
“The one good thing is the bye came on the back of two wins and it gave us an opportunity to get some work in to some people who needed it, with one or two guys chasing their fitness a little bit,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “So we managed to really look after them.”
Minnesota United welcomed back defender Bakaye Dibassy and midfielder Niko Hansen. The two Loons have been going through rehabilitation since preseason due to preseason injuries, and have finally been cleared to join the team.
Alongside Dibassy and Hansen, the Loons welcomed another two players this week, newcomers Adrien Hunou and Franco Fragapane. In the limited time they’ve had for training since finishing their requisite quarantine, the new additions have already impressed.
“They’ve only been joining in with the guys,” said Heath. “We’ve had them here for about a week and have joined up last two or three days. Obviously, the quality is there for all to see. Both at different stages because I don’t think Adrien has played in a full game for seven to eight weeks, so he’s obviously a little bit behind but Franco has looked really sharp because he’s been playing every four days for about two or three months. He’s looked really sharp. But they will both be involved at the weekend and it’s been a long, drawn-out, protracted negotiation but we’re glad we’ve got them both here.”
Hunou played in France’s Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais while Fragapane played in the Argentina Primera División with Club Atlético Talleres. The two new players are getting adjusted to their new country and figuring out how to communicate through a combination of their native tongue, hand gestures and the universal language of soccer.
“It’s very good,” said Honou. “I have French [teammates] like Bakaye [Dibassy], or Romain [Metanire] and Aziel [Jackson] who help because it’s not easy when you arrive in another country. All of the players are very good and speak with me and I try to speak English because it’s important to speak with them. It’s a very good [training] center, it’s all very good.”
With the two new Loons available to start this weekend against Real Salt Lake, both of them feel very confident in what they can bring to the team.
“I can give the team a lot of help defensively as well as offensively,” said newcomer Franco Fragapane. “The truth is that I was playing very well in Argentina, and well, I had the possibility of coming here and now it’s time to do it the best way.”
The last time the Loons took on Real Salt Lake, they lost their home opener and a fire was lit. The newcomers might not carry the same grudge, but all they have in mind is helping the team come home with a win and another three points in thei
