Fafa Picault back and ready to strike fear into Union opponents

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Shut out twice in their first three matches, the early season hasn’t gone to plan for the Union. But on Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium, the club will get a much-needed boost from the return of Fafa Picault.

“It’s going to be great,” said Picault, who was suspended for the team’s first three games for a verbal preseason incident. “There’s a lot of speed, plus we have C.J. (Sapong) up top who is fast and strong. I think at the end of the day, it’s going to work. It’s just to take a little time for us doing it together. I think once we do get settled in and playing together, it’s going to be great.”

Coming off a seven-goal, three-assist, 28-game season, Picault is optimistic about his ability to infuse some life into a lifeless Union attack.

“I was the American with the most goals as a winger,” he said. “ I just want to build off of last year and get better. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and focus on building the team together.”

The winger, now in his second season with the Union, combines speed with surprising aerial skills. It's a combination that gives Union manager Jim Curtin a productive and dynamic option to help spice up his front against the San Jose Earthquakes at 7 p.m.

“Fafa makes plays,” Curtin said. “He does it in different ways. Arriving in the box at the right time, he can set up a teammate, he’s unpredictable for the opponent to deal with. He’s like adding a speed threat in a wide receiver, you know how that changes the defense.”

That speed is what Curtin wants from his entire attack. To unlock the Earthquakes’ defense, the Union are planning to utilize the speed of David Accam and Picault working both sides of the attack. As it stands, Accam has been on the left, which would push Picault, who played on the left side last season, to the right. 

Though, Curtin said he hasn’t made a final decision. 

“Speed creates space,” said Curtin, who started a more tactical right wing in Fabian Herbers during Picault’s suspension. “That’s the easiest way to put it. Guys that stretch the field, I’ve mentioned a bunch before, make center backs drop, makes outside backs stay back and makes them have to defend us, which is a key.”

Picault agreed, and can’t wait to get started. 

“I think we’re going to stretch a lot of defenses,” he said. “I think wing backs are going to be a little scared to push up and it gives us more space to do things. When you have two fast guys who can create, it’s always going to mix up other teams and that’s the reason you try to bring them on board and have them on the same team.”

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