The last time Chris Wingert ran through the tunnel at Rio Tinto Stadium, it was coming from the visitor’s locker room, so when the Real Salt Lake defender got the opportunity to start against Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal match last week, it was a moment he cherished.
In his ninth season with the Claret-and-Cobalt, Wingert is back after a one-year hiatus with New York City FC and already has been called upon in two matches in RSL’s young season. As he works his way into the lineup while competing with incumbent left back Demar Phillips and also pushing his teammates in the other three positions along the backline, Wingert is taking on the 2016 season with a newfound exhilaration.