When MLS suspended the regular season on March 12, Przemysław Tytoń didn’t know what to expect next, but he knew he’d be ready regardless.
The uncertainty wasn’t uncharted for the goalkeeper.
In the Fall of 2018, he was back in Poland training with a local club trying to keep sharp whenever his next opportunity came. He hadn’t played a competitive match since October 2017, but that didn’t matter.
Soon, FC Cincinnati goalkeeping coach Jack Stern flew to the central European country and met with the keeper who’d start for the Orange and Blue in their inaugural MLS match the following March.
So, when the pandemic arrived in the U.S. and matches stopped, Tytoń told himself he’d just keep training hard. Although he didn’t play in FCC’s first two games, maybe he could impress his future head coach once training returned.
“I knew that someday I’m going to jump on my spot,” he said. “That’s why I didn’t stop working hard and I knew that someday we’ll come back to the field and I have to be ready.”
Head coach Jaap Stam’s arrival to Mercy Health Training Center on June 16 was basically a restart for players trying to earn starting spots for the MLS is Back Tournament. That restarted the position battle at goalkeeper as well.
“We had kind of like a short preseason, and every day you have to try your best,” Tytoń said. “In my opinion, I did well, so I got the chance from the coach.”
Photo taken by Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports.
Tyton has started both matches since Stam joined FCC, and he’ll likely start Wednesday night when they face the New York Red Bulls in a final group stage match. Spencer Richey is in concussion protocol and will not be available for the match.
Before the tournament, the Polish goalkeeper’s last appearance came in nine-man FCC’s scoreless draw with D.C. United to close the 2019 season. Now, he’s coming off the team’s first win and clean sheet of 2020.
“Right now, I just want to play games,” he said. “(I’m going) game by game and getting minutes and a rhythm. (I want to) get results as a team because this gives you a lot of power.”
