The Cosmos head into their 2016 NASL campaign with a sizable core of returning players: captain Carlos Mendes, goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, defenders Hunter Freeman, Rovérsio and Ayoze, midfielders Sebastián Guenzatti and Danny Szetela and attacker David Diosa were all pieces of the squad in the title-winning reboot season of 2013. But a busy offseason has also seen five new players signed to date. 

NYCosmos.com takes you through Thursday's practice – the third of the week – below.

KEEP AWAY BONDING

For the field players, the morning began with keep away drills focused on crisp, clean passing. They split into groups of seven, forming a circle of five with two trying to win the ball in the middle of the circle. Each repetition of the drill lasted longer than the previous attempt, as the passing players became more comfortable with one another. The participants counted aloud how many passes they could get off before one was intercepted, and in some cases the total neared 20 or more.

Spirits were high. There was laughing and joking, as new and old players continued to familiarize themselves, but the competitiveness was also evident. Eventually it evolved into a larger version of the same drill. The players split into two teams, and coach Giovanni Savarese counted off how many passes each side could make before the other won back the ball.

On the opposite side of the training pitch, goalkeepers Kyle Zobeck, Brian Holt and Maurer were getting their foundations set with some balance drills. They took turns leaping off a balance trainer pad with one foot, coming down on both feet and making saves on airborne tosses from coach Memo Valencia. Later they lost the pad, making consecutive stops from opposite directions as shots were fired in from the near and far post by the training staff.

Back at it for preseason day 3️⃣. Passing drills and five-a-side.#NYCosmos pic.twitter.com/lmacjKRFhx

— New York Cosmos (@NYCosmos) February 4, 2016

FIVE-A-SIDE

Thursday’s training session concluded with a five-on-five tournament on short fields, a staple of last season. The small-sided games demand constant communication between teammates, pinpoint passing to advance the ball and alert goalkeeping.

Zobeck shone with a handful of full-extension stops, including one on Cosmos newcomer and longtime Venezuela captain Juan Arango. However Arango’s team, which included Maurer, Diosa and Guenzatti, was eventually crowned the top side of the day. They celebrated with a quick chant of “¡Campeones! ” at midfield as practice ended.