Chris Korb isn’t getting comfortable.
With Robbie Russell sidelined for the foreseeable future, the reserve right back has seen his role expand after not logging a single minute through the month of June. The 24-year-old played all ninety minutes in D.C. United’slast league match, a 1-0 loss in Columbus, as well as in the club’s recent drawagainst French side Paris St. Germain.
But don’t call Korb the starter, at least not to his face.
“I don’t look at it like that,” Korb scoffed this week as heprepared for another likely start against Columbus on Saturday night at RFK. “All I can do is make it hard for thecoaches to take me out. That’s allI can really do.”
While Korb isn’t yet comfortable calling himself a de factostarter, the second-year defender is now far more familiar with his on-fieldduties. As United returns homethis weekend, Korb says his coaches have stressed possession on RFK’s widefield. The Akron Universityproduct is being asked to take a leading role in ensuring D.C. keeps more thanits share of the ball against the Crew.
“The coaches want to play attacking, quality soccer,” he added. “I think that comes into play withoutside backs getting forward and I think that is why they like me in somegames and some spots. That doesn’t hurt me at all. I just want to get better going forward and get more assistsand help the team win.”
Originally from Ohio, Korb’s rare start in Columbus drewmore than 20 ticket requests at Crew Stadium. The traveling party will be smaller this week, though Korbsays roughly ten family members will still make their way south to watch himplay Saturday night.
Selected with the 31st overall pick in last year’s draft,Korb’s career didn’t get off to the same spectacular start as some of United’sother recent rookie talents. Hemade twelve appearances – all starts – in 2011, but was limited primarily to areserve role. Now with a full professional season under his belt, thoseclosest to Korb are noticing a difference in his approach.
“He is very serious about his role,” said teammate PerryKitchen, who played alongside Korb at Akron. “He wants to be on the field, so him getting in the startingeleven has definitely given him a boost in confidence. You can absolutely see it when he isplaying."
Chris Korb and D.C. United take on the Columbus Crew this Saturday at RFK Stadium. Buy tickets
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