White and Blue a familiar opponent for Rodriguez
While the majority of Dynamo players will get their first introduction to a team from one of the world’s top leagues Tuesday, Raul Rodriguez will be reliving memories.
The Dynamo play host Tuesday to Real Sociedad of Spain’s La Liga in the eighth annual Dynamo Charities Cup at 6:30 p.m. at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The visitors hail from the Basque Country and were founded in 1909. This year, the White and Blue placed ninth in the league. Noteworthy players include Mexican international forward Carlos Vela, homegrown midfielder Xabi Prieto and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who is rumored to be headed to England’s Manchester City next season.
They meet again
Rodriguez played with RCD Espanyol in La Liga for four and a half years before signing with the Dynamo in January 2015. He said it is a treat to face Real Sociedad in competition yet again.
“You have to take into account that these guys have not just great players and a great coach but that it’s also a huge club with huge history,” Rodriguez said. “They have been having successful years lately.”
Many of the world’s top clubs spend fortunes to bring players in from every corner of the globe. Real Sociedad is different. It focuses on its own quiet region in the northeastern corner of the country with the Bay of Biscay to the north and France to the east.
It would be like the Dynamo choosing almost exclusively from Houston’s city limits. Of the 24 players on the Real Sociedad roster, there are 19 from Spain.
Dynamo defender Agus is familiar with this week’s visitors. He played much of his careers in Spain’s second division, so he appreciates that Real Sociedad operates differently from the likes of world giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
“When a child (in that region) starts to play football, he has a chance to play on the first team,” Agus said. “The personality of the club is amazing because of the confidence in their own young players.”
Agus is likely to come off the bench Tuesday, while fellow Spaniards Rodriguez and David Rocha will be in the starting lineup. Because it is a friendly, there will be unlimited substitutions.
Dynamo coach Owen Coyle said the only players not available will be DaMarcus Beasley, Ricardo Clark, Andrew Wenger, Alex Lima, Giles Barnes and Erick Torres. Barnes left the team Monday to join Jamaica in its preparation for Copa America. Torres is in France with the Mexico under-23 national team.
Time to relax
Because Tuesday’s game will not count in the MLS standings, Rodrguez said it is a chance for the Dynamo to relax while testing themselves against players from one of the world’s top leagues.
“We always say you want to measure yourself against the best players,” Rodriguez said. “This is a great opportunity for that. We’re in a tough situation now in the league. This is good for us to freshen up and play the game without thinking about winning three points or losing three points.”