Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis recently took in a week-long visit of German Bundesliga clubs in a bid to learn more about life as a professional.

With the help of USA national team manager Juergen Klinsmann, the RSL boss spent time with TSG Hoffenheim, VfB Stuttgart and FC Nuremberg and feels that the experience will prove beneficial.

"This opportunity came about and I just asked Juergen if he might be able to put it together, and he came through big-time for me," Kreis told ESPN700 Sports radio in Salt Lake City.

"He put the whole trip together at three different clubs and had contacts at all three clubs, and was able to speak to people. So it was fantastic, and I'm just thankful to him for doing that.

"I just spent a week there watching some first division clubs do some training, trying to pick up on some stuff, trying to learn, trying to improve myself." Kreis admits that the club attempted to undertake a similar field trip in England last year but were not given permission.

"Last year, we tried to go to England," he added. "Both to Chelsea and Arsenal. ... [RSL founder and chairman Dave Checketts] has some great contacts with the chairman of Chelsea, and in Arsenal we have some great contacts with Ivan Gazidis, the former deputy commissioner of MLS.

"Neither of those places was able to get me in to watch training sessions. Apparently it's top-secret stuff in England right now."

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