Goslin works on getting bigger, stronger

CHAMPIONSGATE, FLA. — Chris Goslin looks bigger and stronger than he did last season as he moves through an Atlanta United training session during camp in Florida.

His shoulders and upper body look more solid. That’s by design. Goslin, 17, said he worked in the offseason, doing as many as 50 pushups a day to improve his strength and conditioning.

“Guys are bigger than me so I have to be able to hold them off,” the defensive midfielder said.

Goslin said he added five pounds. He was inspired to do pushups after watching some of the older Atlanta United players’ workouts last year.

With increased strength, confidence and the invaluable experience of training with the team last year, as well as playing for the U.S. in the U-17 World Cup where he received compliments for his play, Goslin looked like he could hold his own during an 11-on-11 scrimmage last week.

“Just getting that first year under my belt for me was really good,” he said. “This year, I feel like I know the team a lot better.”

Manager Gerardo Martino said on the first day of training camp that Goslin would likely earn most of his minutes with Atlanta United 2, the team’s USL franchise that will play at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. That was before the team sold Carlos Carmona, who plays the same position, and before the team drafted Oliver Shannon, who also plays holding midfielder. The team is trying to sign another defensive midfielder to replace Carmona and maintain competition.

Goslin said he’d love to make his first-team debut this season but seems ready to earn most of his minutes with ATL UTD 2. “It will be a good opportunity for guys to get games, playing time this year,” he said.