WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.520 We've got playoff hockey all in the station tonight. Carolina 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:06.919 Florida comes away at six o'clock when we say good night. 3 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:09.919 If you're looking for the hoops basketball side of things, 4 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:12.240 it is OKC Minnesota. 5 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.519 You can hear that on the fans. 6 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.440 So playoff basketball, playoff hockey Tonight, we'll switch gears. 7 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.440 We'll talk a little soccer. Little RSL. 8 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:21.399 The head coach over Al sal Lake is our guest 9 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:25.039 on a Tuesday afternoon. Pablo masjo Eddie, Happy Tuesday, sir. 10 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:29.719 How are we doing Tuesdays? Well, I'm well, I'm well. 11 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.039 I hate to start with a low hanging fruit, but 12 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:34.159 it's been a minute, my guy, it's been a minute 13 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:35.200 since we've seen a goal. 14 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:37.719 I believe the official tally is two hundred and forty 15 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:38.359 six minutes. 16 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:41.960 I know, we keep revisiting this and every week it 17 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.399 feels like you are liking what you're seeing as far 18 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:49.079 as the chances that have been created, it's the finishing 19 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:50.159 that is left wanting. 20 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:51.320 Are you still in that space? 21 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:56.280 Yeah, you know, I think so. You know, it's it's 22 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:00.359 it's been tough to see, like the amount of time again. 23 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.439 I think one of the things that we've really worked 24 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:04.480 on since last year, has been progressing the ball from 25 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:08.359 our goal to their opponent's goal. And and to be fair, 26 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.239 it's not real sexy. It gives us a lot of 27 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:14.120 control of the game, but we're really really proficient at that. 28 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:16.799 And then you know, even this morning, just broke down 29 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:19.040 all the different chances that some of them were not 30 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:22.439 even getting shots on, and they just come down to 31 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.879 decision making, patience. Some we have to go faster, some 32 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.040 we have to go slower, and so just kind of 33 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:31.159 breaking the different scenarios down for the guys so that 34 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.280 they can you know, digest it, we can train it. 35 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:34.760 We train it, say, we'll train it the rest of 36 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.920 this week and hopefully, you know, because if we don't 37 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:41.000 have that one guy that's gonna you know, and dig 38 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:42.760 a little has been that guy and it's obviously a 39 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:44.840 big burden to carry and it's not going to happen 40 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:48.000 every game. So how how can we now figure out 41 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:53.000 different solutions more as a front five as opposed to 42 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:55.480 just relying on one or two guys. And so that's 43 00:01:55.760 --> 00:01:59.480 that's really the methodology that we're going to take as 44 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:02.439 to how we're gonna flip this around and find more 45 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:05.040 ways to goals and then hopefully for those five front 46 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.920 fiber operating in Unison, then we can release a pivot 47 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.960 a little bit higher that give us a six attacker, 48 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.520 so that hopefully again doing it by numbers, doing it 49 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.520 by committee, and doing it more as a collective. And 50 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.319 so that's it's been frustrating. But again, you know, you know, 51 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:22.599 we have all the pieces that we're going to have 52 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.360 for for the time being, and the onus is on 53 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:29.840 myself to and the coaches to find solutions to get 54 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:32.159 these guys hitting balls in the back of that. 55 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:36.400 Look, man, I know you're an extremely positive person and 56 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:39.199 I appreciate that about you, but I also watch you 57 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:40.840 play for a lot of years and I feel like 58 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.280 I know you a little bit, and I know that 59 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.840 there's a stone cold killer and a competitor in there somewhere. 60 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:50.039 At what point does it does it become frustrating? At 61 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:52.520 what point does it become like what else can I 62 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.479 do to get this thing going in the right direction? 63 00:02:55.400 --> 00:03:00.159 Yeah, you know again, I think I think were you know, uh, 64 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.520 proud to say that I've evolved a little bit from 65 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.879 that from that, I mean, I still have that deep 66 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:07.879 deep inside or else I wouldn't be in this in 67 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:11.840 this profession because it is all about winning. But there's 68 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:15.479 also like, you know what, I have to be the 69 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.400 example for the rest of the guys, right, Like I 70 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:19.719 can sit here and be frustrated until my hands in 71 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:21.280 the air and place blame. But at the end of 72 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:25.479 the day, you know, I have to have a cool head. 73 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:28.599 I have to find solutions. I have to relay and 74 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:33.280 sell that solution to the players. And that's the that's 75 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.560 the that's the beauty of the scraft, you know, because 76 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:37.919 it's it's really easy to say, hey, listen, we lost 77 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:41.000 forty something goals from last year. We're not going to 78 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.879 be able to score goals. But the beauty of coaching 79 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:47.919 is finding different solutions to new problems. And and so 80 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.639 for me, you know, the one thing identified identified three 81 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:53.439 different things in the attack that we the ways we 82 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:56.919 can score goals. One is offensive set pieces, right, and 83 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:00.240 that's nothing to do with anyone in particular. That's good 84 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:02.400 delivery and bravery and getting in the box. 85 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:03.240 Uh. 86 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:08.319 The other part is decisions and execution in the final third. 87 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:09.759 And those are the things that we're going to continue 88 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:11.120 to work on. That we worked on today, and we 89 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.759 work on the rest of the week. And and the 90 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.079 third thing is is making sure our shape behind the 91 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:22.839 ball is such that we can create repetitive attacks and 92 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.920 releasing a pivot and and so that we can from 93 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.639 one attack we can get three or four opportunities. So 94 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:31.639 like that is that that's our action plan for the week. 95 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:34.160 That's that's those are the areas that we've identified we 96 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:38.040 can make games, and I think that's what the that's 97 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:40.160 where my focus lies. So when you talk about frustration, 98 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:45.519 it's when you stop coming up with different pathways to 99 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:48.240 achieve a goal. I think is when you get frustrated. 100 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.160 And I think from a coaching perspective that frustration is 101 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:55.360 about yourself. And so that's where that's where I stay 102 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.920 positive because there's always a solution. You just have to 103 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:00.079 ask the right questions to get to the right to 104 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:03.079 the right solutions and put a game plan in place 105 00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:07.759 to achieve those. And so that's the plan obviously. You know, 106 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.319 like you said, I think winning is the thing that 107 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.839 drives all of us athletes, is it is the holy grail. 108 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.680 And when you're not doing that, it's really easy to 109 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:19.480 get down on yourself, down on down on everyone, down 110 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.959 on life. But it's really about being resilient and for me, 111 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.319 more importantly, being the type of me behaving like the 112 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:30.000 type of player I want to see out in the field. 113 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.399 And that's even though it's it's it's not going well, 114 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.000 you still believe, you're positive, you're finding solutions, and you're 115 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.920 approaching every day like it's a great opportunity to get better. 116 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.680 Fair enough, impressive growth. 117 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:44.639 I was going to make a joke about sending my 118 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.319 father to fight you in the locker room, but we 119 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:47.720 don't have to do that today, Pablo. 120 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:51.279 We can leave that. I'm impressed. I'm impressed. 121 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.600 You're a great example to somebody like me who has 122 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:55.759 a little fire that you I don't need to throw 123 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:58.040 them monopoly board if I'm playing Monopoly with my eight 124 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.279 year old nephew, Okay, Like, yeah, I'm with you. I 125 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:04.560 just I hate to keep digging here, man, I just 126 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.360 I don't know. Like I watch your post game presser 127 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:10.040 and there was a little something there after the Colorado 128 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.519 l and I see on the sideline, like I just 129 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.079 have to imagine if I'm as frustrated as I am 130 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.879 watching your club and attack right now, I just have 131 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.920 to imagine at times you're looking around at teams that 132 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.720 have payrolls ten times more than yours, and we were 133 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.680 all expecting something more during the primary transfer window and 134 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:29.480 it didn't come. 135 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:31.199 Like, how are you? 136 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:33.800 I guess what I'll ask is, how are you digesting 137 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.079 all this stuff when it does feel like you're entering 138 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.000 a lot of matches up against it based off the 139 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.439 players you have at your disposal. 140 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:44.519 Yeah, again, you know it's crazy, And I guess maybe 141 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.879 I'm an eternal optimist, but like, it's so hard to build, 142 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:54.000 like to build teams that are perennial playoff contenders and 143 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:57.839 championship like, it takes time, and that's why I want 144 00:06:57.839 --> 00:06:59.680 to I'll go back to what I said at the beginning, 145 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:04.120 is we started this project last year as far as 146 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:08.040 changing our shape and really being ball secure and ball 147 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.839 dominant in the way we build from the back. And 148 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:13.560 you know, there's there's a bunch of crazy stats there 149 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.079 is We're one of the top teams in the league 150 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:18.959 is going from our goal to our opponent's final third, Right, 151 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:21.240 So that's a status and no one cares about that. 152 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:25.319 That's useless information. As far as you know results, go 153 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.959 game to game. The hardest thing to do in soccer 154 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:30.319 is really that final third, and I just feel that 155 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.680 we are so close to hit in the back of 156 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:37.319 the net. And there's all in every game. I can 157 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:39.720 show you six or seven different if there was one 158 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:42.879 decision made differently, it would hit the back of the net. 159 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:46.279 And you obviously can't joystick the guys, so you're giving 160 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.040 them information and they're learning on the fly and so 161 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:52.560 they're trying to digest this information and delivered in real time, 162 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:55.800 and so like, I feel really good about our offense 163 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.560 until we get to the final third, and that's really 164 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:01.360 where you know, and you saw it last year with 165 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.319 guys like Gomez and guys like you know, Chicho. They 166 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.120 were scoring goals with very little x G and it 167 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.439 made the coaching seem like we were geniuses at the time, right, 168 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.959 And it was really them making plays. And that's what 169 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.399 I was alluding to after the game, is like just 170 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:19.040 somebody smash the ball on top bin from twenty yards out, 171 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.000 you know, Somebody get across the front of the defender 172 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.399 and flick one in the back post, you know, And 173 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.959 it's just about making plays. But oftentimes when you're not 174 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.000 scoring a lot of goals, spence, what ends up happening 175 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.519 is that run is a little bit late, that passes 176 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.480 a little bit late because you start overthinking it, you know, 177 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:37.759 and it doesn't come. It's not natural to you, right, 178 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.240 We're not operating in the flow state, and so it is. 179 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.600 It's tough and again and and I actually feel for 180 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:49.000 the it's my frustration, but I feel for the guys 181 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:51.399 because it's very difficult to come in after damn the 182 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:54.440 same guys. But ninety percent of the game, you guys 183 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.360 on both sides of the ball are doing a great job, 184 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:00.399 and I can't give them the the you know, the 185 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:04.720 the know how in real time where seconds and inches 186 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:07.720 are the difference between scoring and not scoring. That type 187 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:11.240 of experience one because I was in a goalscorer myself. 188 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:14.440 But they just, you know, they're just lacking that little 189 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:18.919 bit of that that polish, that that that nowse you know. 190 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.320 And and like I said earlier, Diego lun has been 191 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.639 the guy that's been doing that for us, and it's 192 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:28.720 impossible to expect a guy that hasn't typically scored you know, 193 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:31.639 ten fifteen twenty goals a season to be that guy 194 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.240 every single game. And so I feel for him as 195 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:36.559 well because he's doing a ton of work for us, 196 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:40.159 and at the end of the day, we all as 197 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.360 a team come into that locker room frustrated and it's 198 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.399 really about one phase of the game that can really 199 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.519 turn this thing on a screws and so it's it's 200 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.399 you know, if nothing else it's going, it's going to 201 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:53.120 bring our you know, the way I feel about the 202 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.879 way we train today, it's again Tuesdays for me are 203 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.799 the day because after a tough result, you can you 204 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:03.120 can drop tools, you cannot believe. But these guys got 205 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:05.639 after today and they're full of belief and commitment and 206 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:08.399 the energy was just spot on. And so you know, 207 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:11.639 as long as we have that we have, we do 208 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:14.240 have a chance. And so now it's just about as 209 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:18.200 a collective working extremely hard, believing harder than anyone does. 210 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.720 Because once you get the first goal, the second goal, 211 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.399 then they start coming in droves, and who knows, it 212 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.080 might be Gozo that's going to be a ten goal 213 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:25.720 scorer this year. 214 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:29.279 At the risk of the laboring the point I have 215 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:32.320 one more I guess not to be redundant point to 216 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:36.320 make here. And once upon a time in MLS it 217 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.919 was a little bit different than it is now. Like 218 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:40.879 the two thousand and nine team we had here that 219 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:43.799 won the Cup was not near the highest baid roster 220 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.559 in MLS. They beat the team that was the highest 221 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.600 bade roster in MLS that had a guy named David 222 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.279 Beckham on it had a guy named Landon Donovan on it. 223 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:54.639 The league has changed sixteen years fifteen, sixteen years later, 224 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.080 so now we can talk about it as more of 225 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.080 a grown up, big boy league. Although I do think 226 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:01.679 there are several things about the infrastructure league that need 227 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:04.559 to be looked at. That's just me personally, and whether 228 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:09.320 it's NFL, NBA, NHL. There is one thing, Pablo, and 229 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:12.799 it's now prevalent in MLS they can even the playing field, 230 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:18.600 and that is economic investment in talent period period, period period. Okay, 231 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:20.440 it didn't used to be that way, but it is 232 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:22.960 that way. And you have not received that from the 233 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.879 front office or the ownership. You just haven't, Okay, So 234 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:27.480 I just need to know how that lands with you. 235 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.240 Again, Spence. I mean there's times where I'm watching other 236 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:39.519 teams and the way they go about it, and I'm saying, 237 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:44.039 if we just had that just that one guy, because again, 238 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:48.759 I you know, I think We're two attacking players away 239 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:51.679 from being a top team in this conference and in 240 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:56.080 this league. Two top and again why too, Well, One, 241 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.840 they'll help with the goals, but two, it will also 242 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.919 activate Luna in a different way. Right now, Luna is 243 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:06.080 the guy that's being double team triple teams. And it 244 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:09.720 just it's it's and it's a tough ask to, you know, 245 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:13.679 to to ask a guy like you know, you know, 246 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:17.840 Dom or Gozo or his Seuss or Wolf or you know, 247 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.279 to be the guy that scores goals when you know 248 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:24.679 historically it hasn't happened. And so I agree that investment 249 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:27.759 is really important. You've got to have that. And I 250 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.039 do believe with two players that that we can we 251 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:34.919 be an No one would recognize our team. They wouldn't 252 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:38.480 recognize all the work that's being done and the commitment, 253 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.399 the the graph, the quality from our goal to to 254 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.799 the final third. But I think that two players would, 255 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:51.000 I mean, two players have proven experience, would would make 256 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:53.879 the biggest difference in the world. And and and you know, 257 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:56.039 I've talked to Kurt and Jason. I think we're all 258 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.279 on the same page as as to what we need 259 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:02.320 in order to be you know, a real contender, because again, 260 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:06.120 it's really hard to get all the phases right, and 261 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:09.159 I'm saying we have on both sides of the ball. 262 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.759 I would say we have, you know, five to the 263 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.039 six phases unlocked. Well, we're up there with the top 264 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:16.679 of the league. But the one that sticks out the 265 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:18.879 most is that final third. And like you said, two 266 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:22.000 hundred and something minutes without a goal, you know, that's 267 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:25.600 that's where the pressure just keeps mountain on the defense. 268 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.360 It keeps mounting on the guys trying to score goals 269 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:31.679 because they're just not coming in and offensively try to 270 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:34.879 do more than defensively. You can only withstand so much 271 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.799 pressure before you know you're playing from a place if 272 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:39.559 we can't get one up, because if we do, how 273 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.440 are we going to score goals? And I just think 274 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:45.200 those two top players would alleviate all that for us 275 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.120 and would put us in the right direction. 276 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:49.279 All right, we can move off of it. 277 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.080 The sun is shining, it's Tuesday, it's a nice day, 278 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.960 so let's move off of it. But I do have 279 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.960 one more I don't know if it's an uncomfortable question, 280 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.159 but you took Diego off in the fifty eighth minute 281 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.000 pre plan, sending a message something I'm not seeing. 282 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.879 What was it, what went into that decision. 283 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.039 No, you know, I think after reviewing the game, I 284 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:09.240 probably should have left him on. Uh you know, he was, 285 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.720 he was leggy on the Wednesday at home, and probably 286 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.840 left him on for twenty minutes too long. But again 287 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:17.039 I think this for me, it's just it's just it's 288 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.639 a it's a tough situation as well. Right, So I 289 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.320 probably left him on twenty minutes too long in the 290 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:24.799 Portland game, but I'm thinking to myself, we're at home, 291 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:28.480 we need to win. Who's going to score the goals? Right? 292 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.919 So then I left him on the Colorado game, he 293 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:33.679 was he was leggy from the start and came out 294 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:35.919 the halftime, he says, coach, I got I got more 295 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.120 tank and I was like, all right, well let's let's 296 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:41.519 see it now. And to be fair, when when I 297 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:44.480 decided in the sixtieth minute, he wasn't really involved in 298 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:46.879 the play except right before he came out, and at 299 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.720 that moment I should have pulled the sub back and said, no, 300 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:51.240 Diego is going to win this, you know, win this 301 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:54.399 game for us. And so that's probably the you know, 302 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:57.639 that's on me. But it was. But it's also you know, 303 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.879 three games in a row where he's put in max effort. 304 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:03.639 You know, the amount of running he does is through 305 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.519 the roof. We're playing down a man in Dallas, so 306 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:10.799 I was half cognizant of not running them through the ringer. 307 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:14.039 You know, he wasn't really involved in the game, and 308 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.720 I was like, Okay, maybe this is, you know, an 309 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.679 opportunity for some fresh legs, but I think in hindsight, 310 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:22.200 I should have kept them on and maybe run him 311 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:24.440 through the ringer. But then my biggest fear is if 312 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:27.559 we lose a guy like Luna, then then then it's 313 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:30.759 catastrophic as well. So it's it's it's all those different 314 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:34.840 variables that went into it, but after review, you should 315 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:35.600 have left them in the game. 316 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.200 I like that transparency and honesty. 317 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:41.120 But speaking of the potential of losing a guy like Luna, 318 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.600 I was not in Colorado, which is probably why you lost. 319 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.320 But we've been over that. 320 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.200 So I was watching the Apple broadcast when something really 321 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:51.960 caught my ear, namely the broadcaster saying that you, Pablo 322 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.159 told them that you'd be surprised if Diego Luna is 323 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:59.039 still with the club after the summer European transfer window. 324 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.279 Is that something that you told them, And if so, 325 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.799 can you elaborate on that please? 326 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:07.519 Yeah? No, I think that was completely out of context. 327 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:07.679 Ok. 328 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:13.879 Yeah, Luna's Luna is a guy that is near and 329 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:16.639 dear to my heart only because the transformation that he's 330 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.639 had since he's been here. And and obviously that's that's 331 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:24.519 all on Luna, because he the work that he's put in. 332 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:29.639 And you know, we're talking about Luna's trajectory. And I 333 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.080 was saying when he got here, he didn't want to 334 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.879 didn't want to defend, didn't want to help the team, 335 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.200 could could care less about, you know, just the only 336 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.679 thing he really wanted was get on the ball. And 337 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:42.200 I was talking about how the national team is speaking 338 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:45.600 about him and how they say he's a guy that 339 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:48.480 plays with stones, right he steps on the field and 340 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.440 he has a presence so even when maybe the attacking 341 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:56.879 stuff isn't working, that he still contributes massively to the 342 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:59.360 team and the spirit of the team. And so then 343 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.679 I said, was it was in context of how how 344 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.640 fast he's got he's gone from the player he was 345 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.279 to the player he is. And so I said, along 346 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.960 that same trajectory, I wouldn't be surprised if he's not 347 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.880 here at the end of the summer, because someone's going 348 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.839 to come in and pay twenty five million dollars or 349 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.359 whatever it is to take him somewhere else, you know. 350 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.319 But I think and and I think the big the 351 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.359 biggest thing with that is too is you know, with 352 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:24.200 with the ownership change, there's uh and it's just been 353 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:29.839 mentioned to me recently, which is really exciting is ownership 354 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:32.920 doesn't want to sell players moving forward. They want to 355 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:37.480 build a team that the community can get to know, support, 356 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:42.079 have their favorite players, and build and build something that's long, 357 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:46.519 long term. And so that was news to me. Obviously, 358 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:49.640 I never want to lose Luna. I think that he's 359 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:51.960 he's a player that can you know, a lot like 360 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.039 Hobby Morales back in the day, where he's a game changer, 361 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:58.240 he's a he's he's a guy that starts the attack, 362 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:02.640 finishes the attacks. He's he's one of the most likable 363 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.640 people you will ever meet in your life and someone 364 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.559 that you always want to root for. So, at least 365 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:12.079 from my perspective, you know, if if if Luna stays 366 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.680 here at the club, it would be it'd be I 367 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.640 think the best thing for ourselves moving forward, because he 368 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.480 is a He is a player that is I wouldn't 369 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:24.960 say is irreplaceable, but you'd have to you'd have to 370 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.079 open up the bank to get a player that it 371 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.680 is committed and has the type of investment that that 372 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.640 he has as an attacking player on both sides of 373 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.880 the ball. That that is that is just starting, you know, 374 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:42.039 to make the leap from young player too now superstar. 375 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.720 So that that I think, So that was that was 376 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:47.039 taken out of context. It was It wasn't me wanting 377 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:50.359 to move lunaan. I was just speaking towards his trajectory 378 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:53.119 and how fast it's been. And I wouldn't be surprised 379 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:56.240 given how how far he's coming a year and a half, 380 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:59.799 two years to where he could potentially go. But hopefully 381 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.720 it's here at ourselves for the long term. 382 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:03.640 So I think it's safe to say that Gail Miller 383 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:06.400 and Steve Starks listen to the show, because that's I've 384 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.799 just been begging for this forever. Pablo, Hey, Porter, real quick, 385 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:12.640 will you go ahead and formulate a press release that 386 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:15.079 Pablo on the show has indicated Diego Luna is going 387 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.640 to be an RSL Man for life. Can you get 388 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:20.319 that done? Yeah, thank you, sir. I kid I kid buck. 389 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.039 I know the bottom line of what the club is 390 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.640 trying to do. But that news, Pablo, is something that 391 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.680 is also news to me. That had to be music 392 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.519 to your ears. 393 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:33.119 Yes, to be fair, I mean again, and I think 394 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:36.240 this is like a big part of like the unknowns 395 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.559 that have been kind of happening. The underpinnings is obviously 396 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:42.519 the move of the transfer of ownership, and obviously there's 397 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:47.240 different philosophies of different groups, and working with GFH and 398 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.160 David Blitzer has been amazing. It's opened mindes with different 399 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.680 ways of doing things. They care about the club, they 400 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:56.400 look at it from a different perspective, and so I 401 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:59.720