As the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2019 preseason rolls on, players are beginning to adapt to the strenuous workload they’ve been tasked with facing. Two lengthy on-field trainings per day, combined with lung-busting gym sessions, has the team on a fast track to opening day on March 2.

We asked a handful of players how they would describe their time in Mexico so far using three words:

Midfielder Siad Haji: Competitive, beautiful, brotherhood

Goalkeeper Matt Bersano: Exhausting, encouraging, change

Midfielder Magnus Eriksson: Hard, fun, challenging

Defender Jimmy Ockford: Tough, different, competitive

Midfielder Florian Jungwirth: Work, fun, pain

Midfielder Vako: Fun, exciting, tiring

Midfielder Gilbert Fuentes: Beautiful, tough, one-of-a-kind

Forward Cade Cowell: Intense, hard, fun