For as long as there have been professional sports, fans have been privy to the old adage “the best offense is a good defense.” However, an elite defense can often be hard to quantify. In the case of the Union one needs look no further than their league-leading 20 goals against, including 9 shutouts, good for 0.87 goals against average in 2020. In a season under normal circumstances that would be good for a mere 30 goals against, the fewest the league has seen since the 2012. Defensive improvement was the ultimate offseason goal for Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner in 2019 and the center backs played a huge role shutting down opposing offenses.
As the preseason started up it seemed the destined center back pairing would be homegrown Mark McKenzie and Jack Elliott however even more depth and firepower was added with Jakob Glesnes' arrival on January 31st. Curtin said that he could envision times in the upcoming season where all three center backs would be on the pitch at the same time but the trio never got to gel between Glesnes arrival, McKenzie's USMNT obligations and Elliott's time away to get his green card.
That lack of chemistry were on display in the Union's first two matches of 2020, as FC Dallas and LAFC each scored multiple goals and the Union collected a lone point. Despite the draw at LAFC, Glesnes' broke into the spotlight with a goal that not only was one of the best in 2020 but Union history.
As the pandemic paused sports, the Union as a team becomes closer and so too did the center backs with a shutout against New York City FC in the MLS is Back Tournament opener that kicked off a run to the semifinals. Throughout it all all three constantly battled to keep their spot in the lineup with the ultimate pairing going to McKenzie and Glesnes.
Perhaps no one can claim as much of the credit for the leap from last year to this year of the defensive unit as Mark McKenzie. The 21-year-old became the staple of the defensive identity this season clearing balls, intercepting passes, winning headers, and tackling foes. He was a force to be reckoned with all year. His efforts did not go unnoticed by others, as he finished runner-up Defensive Player of the Year. Quite the leap from only playing in seven matches last season, to now a MLS Best XI winner as one of the top defenders in the league this year.
The backline too was characterized by versatility this season and no one exemplified this better than Jack Elliott, who filled whatever role Jim Curtin asked him to fill over the course of this season. When not being asked to play center back, Elliott has logged time at the no. 6 position when called upon showcasing his versatility on the field.
“The best offense is a good defense” takes on a whole new meaning with this group who regularly found themselves involved in creating chances and scoring opportunities this season. The backline combined for four goals and three assists this season, led by Mark McKenzie who asserted himself in the attacking third scoring twice and adding three assists. McKenzie earned his first career MLS goal against D.C. United when he let loose from outside the box to beat the keeper; he followed it up one week later converting a header in the Union’s rout of Toronto FC.
