CHESTER — It has not been a fun 2024 for Andre Blake.
The Philadelphia Union’s franchise goalie has started just four league games, going the full 90 minutes twice. He’s dealt with a concussion, an adductor strain and a meniscus tear in his knee that required surgery.
It’s rendered him a spectator for the worst season in nearly a decade for the Union and for Jamaica’s campaign at Copa America, all after a contentious contract negotiations to stay in Philadelphia.
There have been days when the message on the background of his phone, to “keep fighting,” have felt harder than others.
“It’s hard,” Blake said Tuesday. “Probably one of the toughest times in my career. But life is like this sometimes.”
One layer of a painful season might abate Wednesday. Blake expected to be back for the Union as they attempt to end a 10-game winless streak at home against New England (7:30, APPLETV).
Blake has been out since April 27, missing a month before going under the knife in late May. In his absence, the Union (4-10-9, 21 points) have gone 1-9-5, tumbling to last place in the Eastern Conference. The correlation is clear.
After training Tuesday, Blake expressed a desire to ease his way back in, elusive as that is for a goalie. That process, unlike for field players, will take place on the field, after manager Jim Curtin proclaimed, “Andre’s back,” in his pre-game press conference.
“It takes time,” Blake said. “Normally, an outfield player gets to play 30 minutes or 45 minutes. I don’t have that luxury. But it comes with the position and it’s going to be a lot mental. You just have to, whenever you get into a game, just let the game come to you and try to relax and work your way back in.”
Curtin’s comments came within the context of taking blame for rushing Blake back from the adductor issue. While that didn’t lead to his concussion, it may not have helped the injury that developed in his knee a month later.
With the chance of the mere specter of Blake in goal providing the Union a desperately needed boost, Curtin will opt for the Jamaican, and not just because of the struggles of Oliver Semmle and Andrew Rick in his stead.
“He’s one of our best players, and we’ve been without him for a very long stretch,” Curtin said. “So to get him back, I think, the confidence that gives not just the backline but the whole group: that you’re never out of a game is really, really big.”
This season has been a stark departure for Blake. Since being elevated to the full-time starter in 2016, Blake hadn’t made fewer than 26 starts in a 34-game season (he started 21 of 23 in the pandemic-shortened 2020). That includes playing every single minute of the 2022 season.
As if the Union needed any affirmation as to the value of the four-time All-Star, three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and eventual Ring of Honor inductee, their freefall without him has provided it.
For Blake, the layoff has been longer than most offseasons. It’s something he hasn’t dealt with in nearly an uninterrupted decade as a first-choice starter. But the light at the end of the tunnel is near.
“It’s everything at once,” he said. “That makes it so hard. But this is life. I’ve always said, don’t get bitter, get better. So I just have to keep fighting and understand that life is about moments, and this is one of the tougher moments and you can either give up, or keep fighting, and I’m going to keep fighting.”
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NOTES >> Jesus Bueno (ankle) has played through significant pain, Curtin said, but trained fully and is eligible for selection. Jose Martinez returned from international duty with Venezuela and is available, while Damion Lowe is battling with an ankle issue. … The departure of Jack McGlynn — plus Nathan Harriel — to the Olympics and David Vazquez to the U.S. Under-20s opens a chance for Cavan Sullivan to possibly make his debut. Curtin said after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Toronto that the club wanted him to travel to Toronto for the gameday experience, though child labor laws prevented the 14-year-old from doing so. Curtin said Sullivan has earned a spot in the 20 on the basis of his performance in MLS Next Pro and the need for midfield options. “Cavan’s earned the right to be in the 20, and if you just go through the numbers, he’ll get that opportunity now,” Curtin said. “And the next step is working hard to get your first minutes.” If he plays either Wednesday or Saturday against Nashville, he would undercut Freddy Adu’s record as the youngest player to debut in MLS.
Source: Berkshire mont