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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Like many of his team-mates, Los Angeles midfielder Todd Gurley is delighted that his next showup against the Kansas City Chiefs will be played at L.A. Coliseum instead of Mexico City.
There is just a small problem
"The worst thing about my return to L.A., is that 30 people have sent me a text message to try to participate in the game," said Gurley laughing before becoming serious. "No, it'll be fun."
This is a stark contrast with last week for the Rams, which did not go off without a hitch.
From left, Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Los Angeles Rams midfielder Todd Gurley and cornerback Aqib Talib will meet in Denver at an NBA game this week. (AP)
In preparation for the Monday night contest – which will pit two teams 9-1 against each other during prime time – the Rams are training at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs . The Rams say that this had long been expected, so that we could get used to the altitude of a match that was originally set to take place in Mexico (7,382 feet above sea level). sea level). But the poor state of Estadio Azteca's playground – and the players' concern about it – sparked a lot of consternation and dramas earlier this week, at least until that day. that the NFL transferred the competition to the LA Coliseum, leaving players on both sides relieved.
"I mean, I saw the pictures of the field, so I was not too shocked," said linebacker Cory Littleton.
According to reports, the Rams, who were already in Colorado Springs, would resettle this week's practices at their training center at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. The club chose to stay in Colorado Springs as the ongoing forest fires at its home – which burn near their practice center, forcing many Rams players and staff to evacuate their homes last week – tend to to take care of it.
"With all that is going on right now, I think there are guys who, at the time, would not have been able to go home," said the Rams coach. , Sean McVay.
All this has created a feeling of upheaval that is not ideal before a game of this magnitude.
"It's a bit difficult," said Gurley. "When we go on trips like this, it throws everything away. You sort of go out of your weekly routine.
Gurley and the Rams take a positive approach to all this, it seems.
"Many of us had to evacuate our own homes [because of the wildfire]So, it is good to stay away from this, to be with his brothers and his coaches and to be stuck. Trying to get ready for a big game is a good thing, "said star defenseman Aaron Donald.
Receiver Brandin Cooks took a step further.
"We are lucky to be here," said Cooks, who was evacuated from his home. "But you think back to your families at home and to the people who live there, you wish you could be there for them.
The Rams accommodations in Colorado Springs exceeded expectations, McVay noting that Broadmoor, the luxury hotel where they held meetings, did a great job of rolling out the red carpet. This has only added to the appeal of the quaint town, located near the base of the southern Rocky Mountains.
"What a beautiful place," said McVay. "You can just enjoy, it's just clean air, the amenities of this thing … we're planning games and things like that, but I know our players have enjoyed it. I think it was a great getaway for the team to be together and create a bond. "
A group of players met on Tuesday to watch the NBA Nuggets face the Houston Rockets.
The Rams, mixed with the Seahawks last Sunday, are eager to play a home game in Latin America instead of Mexico, originally planned. (AP)
"Yeah, it was pretty cool," Gurley said. "[We’ve] have had a good time creating a team link. "
Nevertheless, this remains a job, and the players say that McVay has repeatedly insisted on the importance of staying focused in chaos. He did his part by maintaining the same training routine and the cooks noted that the players had been caught off guard this week.
"Communication in our meeting rooms and on guided tours was at a high level just because we were moving [so much]Cooks said, "Not being able to practice walking is a bit different because you're not at full speed, so the communication factor above the neck is much more important. "
The Rams have not lost sight of the fact that despite the drama on the field in Mexico, the game of the year has been moved from a neutral site to a real home game.
And considering the way the Coliseum rocks Monday night – this is the first Monday night game since 1979 – it's hard for players to be upset by the unfolding drama on the pitch … a heightened demand for tickets etc.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Gurley said. "As I said, it's the big stage. It's going to be a good crowd for sure.
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