The USMNT's World Cup build-up gathered momentum with a 3-2 win over Senegal in Charlotte, where Mauricio Pochettino used the friendly to stretch his squad.
The hosts started fast, then made heavy changes after the break, effectively giving different groups meaningful minutes before the tournament pressure arrives.
Mark McKenzie, the Toulouse defender competing for a centre-back role, started in Pochettino's XI and has now explained how the squad planned to handle the next step.
Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images
Asked about the energy shown against Senegal, McKenzie said the immediate priority was to make sure the group recovered properly.
He stated: "It will be about recovery today. It will be about recovering as soon as possible. But I think it's a testament to the coaching staff, the sports performance staff, the way we train, the way we're working as a group. Obviously, we want to be able to continue to build that all the way throughout the match.
"Since we touched down on Wednesday, we got our boots on the grass. It was just a matter of hitting the ground running, understanding what we wanted to do and accomplish, and get back to what we do best."
That balance matters because the USMNT still have one more test before opening the World Cup against Paraguay on June 12.
They face Germany next Saturday, June 6, at Soldier Field in Chicago, giving Pochettino one final chance to judge defensive partnerships, minutes and rhythm.
For McKenzie, every session and every recovery day carries selection value. The Argentine coach clearly has doubts for his centre-back spots, and his Senegal start kept him firmly in that battle.
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