MLS All-Star Notebook: Gil, Lucho, Petrovic, Buck, and Trusty
Gil praises Petrovic, Buck, and Acosta.
The Blazing Musket is down in Washington D.C. to attend the MLS All-Star Game. Here are some notes from Monday.
Gil and Petrovic Participate in All-Star Practice
The MLS All Stars took part in a training session at American University on Monday.
The roster features players from around the league, including Carles Gil and Djordje Petrovic of the New England Revolution. This is Gil’s second trip to the summertime showcase and Petrovic’s first.
“It means I’m doing good things for my team, so I’m happy for that,” Gil said about being an All Star. “With Petrovic, with my teammate, we will try to represent the best for New England.”
Of course, Gil and Petrovic will have new teammates when they face Arsenal on Wednesday. One of those players is Lucho Acosta, who Gil believes is among the best in the league.
“[Acosta is] having a very good season, and also his team,” Gil commented. “We’re trying to catch them but it’s difficult. He’s the best player on, for the moment, the best team.”
Gil Backs His Guys
Gil also gave his Revs teammates some love during Monday’s media availability.
He noted, “[Petrovic] is the best goalkeeper in the league. Obviously he needs to be here.”
When asked to identify a promising, young MLS player, Gil spoke about 18-year-old Noel Buck.
“[Noel] is a very good player,” Gil said. “Every day, training hard. He’s improving every day. He’s a very good guy. He wants to continue to learn, and his future will be brilliant.”
Auston Trusty Talks about the Growth of MLS
Auston Trusty is impressed by what MLS has become.
Trusty began his career in the Philadelphia Union Academy, ultimately signing a homegrown contract with the club. After making 56 league appearances for his hometown team, the defender was traded to the Colorado Rapids.
Trusty was sold to Arsenal in Jan. 2022, though he was loaned back to the Rapids for the rest of the season. He then spent time with Birmingham City, making 44 appearances with the Championship side.
Trusty is currently participating in preseason with Arsenal, who are set to face the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday. The game provided Trusty with an opportunity to reflect on MLS.
“You have to respect MLS,” Trusty said. “The guys are good here. It’s not a league where, in a sense, in the past, the viewpoint was a little bit different; that a lot of older guys play at the end of their careers but now this is a real deal league with good players.”