CHESTER — Whatever playoff run the Philadelphia Union might embark on in 2023 will have to occur without one of the heroes of 2022 and 2021.
Jakob Glesnes will undergo sports hernia surgery this week, effectively ending his season. Coach Jim Curtin confirmed that Saturday after a 3-1 win over New England in Game 1 of the best-of-3 playoff series.
“He’s played through one of the more painful injuries you can have in this sport,” Curtin said. “Just because kicking, everything that goes along with it, the jumping, change of direction, playing the center back position where you have to hit long diagonals – he’s played through just as much pain as you possibly can.”
Glesnes has nursed a core muscle injury for most of the season. He didn’t miss a game until Sept. 20, when his 101-game MLS starting streak came to an end. Sports hernia surgery was indicated for the end of the season, but the pain became too much.
Glesnes is the reigning MLS defender of the year. Among his 101 straight MLS starts, he started 40 of the Union’s first 42 games in all competitions this year. He played every MLS minute last year and has played 120 of 124 games in all competitions for the Union since the start of 2021. (One of the games missed was the COVID game with half the team out in the 2021 Eastern Conference final.)
“He gives everything for the badge, left everything he could on the field this year,” Curtin said. “Unfortunately the pain has gotten to a point that it’s not tolerable, and there’s no one tougher than Jakob. … He’s about as tough as it gets. He’s a true Viking, and he wants to be out there. But sometimes your body tells you, and you have to listen.”
Without Glesnes, the Union started Damion Lowe next to Jack Elliott Saturday. Glesnes’ absence leaves the Union with three healthy center backs, including young South African Olwethu Makhanya, who has yet to play for the first team.
It makes it difficult for the club to swap to a 3-5-2 formation, needing to draft in either Kai Wagner or Nathan Harriel at center back. Curtin has reiterated that the club is best in a 4-4-2 diamond even before Glesnes went down.
Whereas the Union played primarily with a four-back system with Elliott and Glesnes in the middle last year, this year’s busy schedule forced them to toggle through a number of defenses. That versatility is paying off.
“Obviously Jakob’s a huge miss for us,” Elliott said. “We know each other very well by now, but I think we can pick up the slack and can play as a team. When everyone plays their role, we’re always going to be OK, and that’s what we have to do.”
“It’s tough,” Harriel said. “Jakob’s a great leader, he’s a great presence on the field, an extra blanket of security on the field. But Damion steps in and does very well in all the opportunities he gets to play. It’s a lot of next-man-up mentality.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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