Minnesota United players felt closer to normal Wednesday when they held their first full team training session in Blaine since the coronavirus pandemic put their season on hold three months ago.
In barely three weeks, they'll resume their suspended season in next month's "MLS is Back" tournament in Orlando.
Isolated at home for two months before MLS allowed first individual and then small-group training, the Loons were cleared last week for full team training. The approval required that players, coaches and staff undergo testing for the virus that shuttered the league in March after teams had played just two games.
Loons midfielder Jan Gregus underwent a blood test and nasal-swab test Monday. He was swabbed again Tuesday in nasal testing he said he expects will continue every other day. Minnesota United is responsible to arrange and pay for testing before the team departs for Orlando late this month. MLS will be responsible for it when all 26 teams arrive for the monthlong tournament that starts July 8.
The Loons will play their first game July 11, goalkeeper Tyler Miller said after Wednesday's training.
Gregus called testing "obviously necessary" and termed Tuesday's nasal swabbing "pretty uncomfortable" compared to Monday's tests.
"It's like, 'Just one second and it is done almost,' '' he said. "But it's not nice when he's touching your brain with a stick. You put your head back and they put the thing in, but it's OK."
Gregus said he tested negative and hasn't fallen ill during the past three months.
