United showcases what's new and what's carrying over from last season

The new-season vibe was unmistakable at New Mexico United’s Mesa del Sol training center Thursday morning.

New coach Dennis Sanchez and his staff put players through their paces on an artificial turf field just south of the team’s headquarters. There was a combination of focused competition and jovial banter as United worked through preparations for a regular-season opener now just over three weeks away.

New faces? There were plenty, including some who won’t be in uniform when United travels to face Sacramento Republic FC on March 8. NMU’s current squad includes 18 signed players (14 of them returnees) along with a number of trialists and academy players vying for roster spots.

United has two home preseason matches remaining (March 22 and April 1) before Sanchez and his staff must make final personnel decisions. Still, the time for making impressions is growing short.

“We’re still looking for some depth in the back,” Sanchez said during Thursday’s media day interviews. “From a midfield and attacking standpoint, I think we’re in a good spot right now.”

Thus far, NMU has signed four new players for 2025, all of them experienced midfielders and wingers. That group is comprised of Luiz Fernando, Tomas Pondeca, McKinze Gaines and Gedion Zelalem.

Turnover on both the roster and the coaching staff are annual rites of spring for USL Championship clubs and New Mexico is no exception. Former head coach Eric Quill departed for a head job with MLS FC Dallas in November, stirring change after United’s run to a Western Conference regular-season title and the franchises first two home playoff games.

But Sanchez and NMU Sporting Director Itamar Keinan recognized that a full-scale rebuild was not necessary. More important, Sanchez said, were keeping United’s core and chemistry intact.

“I recognized from the outside that spirit was the superpower of the group last year,” Sanchez said. “We wanted to build on that and bring in guys who fit both on the field and from a character/personality standpoint. I think we’ve done a good job building, and the returning players have done a great job welcoming in the new guys.”

Veteran defender and 2024 team captain Kalen Ryden said the transition to a new coaching staff, thus far, has been smooth. In fact, he feels United is “a step ahead” of where it was at this time last year.

“It’s hard to compare the two teams, but there are a lot of similarities to last year,” Ryden said. “We have a lot more returners, so guys are comfortable, and there are a lot of similarities on the ball — quick combinations. So far, I’ve been enjoying every day.”

NEW PERSPECTIVES: Pondeca and Gaines arrived in New Mexico with MLS backgrounds, but both said they’ve had favorable early impressions of United’s 2025 club.

“There’s a collectiveness,” Pondeca said, “a feeling of staying together, buying in and becoming a unit. Everyone brings something different to the team. I like what I’m seeing.”

Gaines, who has played on some of the game’s largest stages in Europe and in MLS, agreed.

“It’s been great,” he said. “This is probably the best locker room I’ve been part of, top to bottom. Guys support each other and the banter’s there. That’s important.”

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: With new faces coming in, a number of familiar faces won’t be back with United in 2025. Fan favorites Chris Wehan, Cristian Nava and Harry Swartz announced their retirements during the offseason. Significant knee injuries hastened the departures of Wehan — the club’s career goal-scoring leader — and Nava, an Albuquerque native and the first NMU academy player to sign a full pro contract with the club.

Abdi Mohamed, Nannan Houssou and Marco Micaletto, all regulars in 2024, will be playing for rival USLC teams in 2025. Mohamed signed with Oakland Roots SC, Houssou inked a multi-year deal with the Charleston Battery, and Micaletto moved to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on a transfer agreement.