D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen has barely kicked a competitive ball in 15 months, but he was back at training Thursday to try and resurrect his playing career, writes Steven Goff. Despite rumors of retirement and persistent pain in his left ankle, Olsen is determined to try and play for at least one more season.
"Today was a positive step," said Olsen. "Saying that, talk to me tomorrow morning. This thing, from day to day, can change. It's kind of exhausting in a lot of ways. You play and you feel, 'Oh man, today I feel great.' And then you wake up and it's not easy getting up the stairs for a while."
There was talk of a front-office job at United, but Olsen decided he's not ready for that yet. "I just didn't know [about coming back]," he said, "but how can you give this up? How can you not try and get another year out of it? I am not ready to step into that next career, whatever it may be. I still feel like I have a lot to give." The former U.S. national team player is "cautiously optimistic about maybe getting through a season. There will be a lot of managing the pain throughout the season, and maybe I am not going to be a guy that starts or plays. I have no idea how this is going to play out."
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