Fire MF Bastian Schweinsteiger, who joined the club in March, said that he needs more time to adapt to MLS "given the 'huge' difference in quality" between European and U.S. soccer. Schweinsteiger told the German-language daily Suddeutsche Zeitung that "adapting to MLS is also proving frustrating at times, given it is not at the same level as the previous leagues he has played in." Schweinsteiger: "We all know that this league is just not like the Premier League or the Bundesliga" (ESPNFC.us, 5/9).
DO I STAY OR DO I GO? In DC, Steven Goff noted the NWSL and U.S. Soccer are "in a tricky spot" with USWNT F Mallory Pugh. If the 18-year-old Pugh decides to go to a European club, like fellow USWNT players Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Carli Lloyd have done, it would "further tarnish" the fledgling NWSL. U.S. Soccer and the NWSL "want Pugh in the best environment to develop and thrive," but "preferably in the NWSL, where her skills and marketability will help lift the league’s profile" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/8).
TIME TO CHARM: Goff also notes Baltimore is in "prime position" to land an expansion USL team. USL President Jake Edwards said that league execs will "meet with the Baltimore group, as well as local officials, in the next two weeks to continue discussions about the expansion bid and tour potential sites to build a stadium." Baltimore is among eight markets to "submit applications to begin play" in '19 or '20. The league is "deep in talks with the eight and, if they meet standards and conditions, all would enter the league" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/9).
