Midfielder not getting time with first team
With every goal Branko Boskovic scores or creates for D.C. United’s reserve team, it gets more difficult to understand why he hasn’t yet seen the field for the club this season in an MLS match, especially since he’s also the team’s highest paid player.
Boskovic added another goal and two assists for the reserves last weekend in New England, and he may have been the most impressive attacking player in training earlier this week. But the place United (1-1-0) could have used that production was in its offensively starved 2-1 loss to the Revolution first team.
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“This isn’t the moment,” Boskovic said. “Every player, when not play, feel bad. But what to say? I continue to work, and maybe some things change.”
United coach Ben Olsen has remained rigid in his preference for Boskovic on the left side of the midfield in a 4-4-2 formation rather than adapting the scheme to the abilities of the 30-year-old Montenegrin veteran. As a result, Boskovic has been stuck behind third-year midfielder Chris Pontius.
“He’s been an absolute pro since the day he got here this year,” Olsen said. “He works very hard at training. The reserve games, he plays as hard as he would in a regular game. He’s been fantastic, and right now I have Pontius out there. That could change.”
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| D.C. United at Rapids |
| When » Sunday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » Dick’s SG Park, Commerce City, Colo. |
United general manager Dave Kasper said Boskovic did not arrive in the shape the team expected for preseason. Boskovic said he’s lost a kilogram but he hasn’t changed physically.
“I’m professional,” said Boskovic, whose salary was listed as $516,200 last season and who is under contract through June 2012, according to his agent. “I’m contracted here, and I must work. If they think like this, for me, it’s OK. I must keep working and be here.”
Boskovic also has in mind his standing with the Montenegro national team and coach Zlatko Kranjcar, who is likely to call upon him for a Euro 2012 qualifier at home against Bulgaria on June 4.
“I hope nothing change because this coach know me long time,” Boskovic said. “Normally, when you are not playing, you are not in good condition, and it’s not good. But it’s OK because this year we have this reserve game. It’s not same like when you are playing MLS, but it’s good.”
Note » D.C. United signed goalkeeper Bill Hamid to a new contract. Hamid made eight MLS starts in 2010 before undergoing shoulder surgery last fall. He was cleared for practice just before the season opener but has yet to see action.
