
At a U.S. training camp in January 2005, during a typical possession exercise at a morning session, something took place that would change U.S. Soccer for the next eight years. In what is normally a tedious practice drill that stresses the importance of team movement, pressure and passing, Clint Dempsey, 21, was in a league of his own. Time and time again, Dempsey single handedly kept possession by dribbling through pressure and daring anyone to take the ball away from him. No one could.
Arena, noticing the entire function of the training session was being foiled by one player, yelled, “Keep it simple, Clint!” and “Off your feet quicker, Clint!” Until, finally, Dempsey responded with, “Why? They can’t take the ball away from me.”

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