WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>RSL back at action against an old rival coming up,

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<v Speaker 1>and some fun storylines surrounding this little soccer club. The

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<v Speaker 1>head coach, Pablo Master Honey on a Thursday, Pops, Happy Thursday, Man,

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<v Speaker 1>how are we doing?

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<v Speaker 2>Happy Thursday? Spen's doing great.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's appreciate the time. So let's not bury the lead.

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<v Speaker 1>Diego Luna a all star once again. Back to back

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<v Speaker 1>All Stars selections for Diego. That has not happened for

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<v Speaker 1>RSL since Nick Romondo and Kyle Beckerman over a decade ago.

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<v Speaker 1>So we have a lot to talk about that does

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<v Speaker 1>not involve all Star selections and such, but a nice

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<v Speaker 1>nod for Diego.

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<v Speaker 3>Pablo, what are your thoughts?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it's I think it's awesome for both

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<v Speaker 2>Diego and the club. You know. I think as we've

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<v Speaker 2>spoken about, you know, I think the Millers want to

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<v Speaker 2>really build a fantastic team that can be a perennial

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<v Speaker 2>playoff team, and I think in order to do so,

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<v Speaker 2>you have to have players that are consistently playing at

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<v Speaker 2>a really high level. I think Digo is a great example,

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<v Speaker 2>and and so I think it's it's a great step

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<v Speaker 2>for for the club and and Diego to continue to

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<v Speaker 2>you know, mature into a well rounded player, a player

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<v Speaker 2>that's playing at a really high level with the national team,

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<v Speaker 2>and someone that hopefully will be around for many years

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<v Speaker 2>to come.

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<v Speaker 1>What was your reaction when you had found out that

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<v Speaker 1>you were selected to the All Star team for the

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<v Speaker 1>first time. I feel like that's kind of a nice

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<v Speaker 1>little box check to dream that most young players have.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, especially you know, obviously not not prevalent and in

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<v Speaker 2>Europe all Star teams. But I think growing up as

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<v Speaker 2>a even if you just play soccer as I did,

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<v Speaker 2>you're aware of you know, the NBA All Star Game,

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<v Speaker 2>the Baseball Star Game and the NFL Pro Game or

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<v Speaker 2>you know. I think it's just a great recognition and

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<v Speaker 2>and and and I think in today's MLS it's a

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<v Speaker 2>lot different than back in the day where there's so

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<v Speaker 2>many stars in in in our league, and so to

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<v Speaker 2>be a you know, a player like Diego who's now

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<v Speaker 2>in his third year of MLS and and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>to be recognized, it's pretty powerful. And it's definitely a

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<v Speaker 2>boost of confidence, you know, and and you can also

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<v Speaker 2>have the national team to his resume and all these things.

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<v Speaker 2>It's it's pretty impactful, and it's I think an indicator

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<v Speaker 2>that you're moving in the right direction. And uh a

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<v Speaker 2>great experience as well, you know, because you get to

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<v Speaker 2>you get to meet all these guys, obviously Messi and

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<v Speaker 2>all the other guys that will be there, and it's

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<v Speaker 2>almost like a fraternity of sorts for four days or

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<v Speaker 2>three days, you know, and you get to mingle and

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<v Speaker 2>and and share experiences and get to know the guys

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<v Speaker 2>that are across the field from you. Some of the

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<v Speaker 2>guys that you compete against weekend and week out, but

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<v Speaker 2>some of the guys that you grew up you know,

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<v Speaker 2>idolizing and and really shaping your game around these players.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's going to be it's really a wonderful uh

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<v Speaker 2>few days to be recognized and to spend with the

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<v Speaker 2>other guys.

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<v Speaker 3>You know. I always talk about this.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think, well, I know, I don't, and I'm

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<v Speaker 1>quite sure most of our domestic sports fans don't fully

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<v Speaker 1>understand the magnitude of who Lionel Messi is in the

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<v Speaker 1>ECO system simply of the sport of soccer. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>he's Michael Jordan, He's Tiger Woods, he's whatever name you

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<v Speaker 1>want to throw attached to the sport that most people

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<v Speaker 1>believe is the greatest ever do it. I know there's

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<v Speaker 1>a debate there. I'm not educated enough to have a take,

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<v Speaker 1>but I don't even know, like what the question is,

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<v Speaker 1>what do you think it's going to be like?

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<v Speaker 2>For?

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<v Speaker 1>And I know this has already happened, But when you

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<v Speaker 1>when you take the field, when you take the pitch,

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<v Speaker 1>and you look over and literally the greatest to ever

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<v Speaker 1>do it is standing there. What sort of osmosis or

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<v Speaker 1>whatever the hell it is can be ascertained from just

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<v Speaker 1>that experience of playing with training and playing in a

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<v Speaker 1>game along with the greatest that's ever done it.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, obviously it's it's it's almost surreal, right. I

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<v Speaker 2>think it's an out of body experience. You know. I

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<v Speaker 2>had the opportunity to play alongside David Beckham in an

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<v Speaker 2>All Star game, and even in that moment, it was

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<v Speaker 2>like I was in a different planet and I was

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<v Speaker 2>just soaking it all up and asking him questions about

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<v Speaker 2>his career, and and you know, it's like one of

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<v Speaker 2>your one of your heroes, is right there next to you,

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<v Speaker 2>and and it's one of these moments that it's like

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<v Speaker 2>you never thought it was possible, because you can imagine

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<v Speaker 2>when Diego was growing up, Messi was in his heyday,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, and so then, and they have a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of similarities in their game, you know, And so I'm

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<v Speaker 2>I'm I'm sure that he modeled a lot of what

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<v Speaker 2>he does from what he saw with Messi on the screen.

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<v Speaker 2>And then to share a locker room and a field

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<v Speaker 2>and the opportunity to compete in the game together, I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>it's it's it's unworldly, it's it's it's it's a magnificent opportunity.

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<v Speaker 2>It's it's it's hard to kind of put into words,

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<v Speaker 2>but I think you're I found myself thinking, I can't

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<v Speaker 2>believe I'm in the same room with these guys. Like

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<v Speaker 2>it's just it's it's surreal.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>I can remember when we had Beckham here, and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>initially he came here with Real Madrid and I was

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<v Speaker 1>low Scalactakos and they had you know, rude band, mister

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<v Speaker 1>Roy and you could keep Kaka, I mean, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>Eco Cassius, we could keep Roberto Carlos. Like I remember

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<v Speaker 1>when that group walked into the hotel. We were waiting

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<v Speaker 1>for them to get off the bus, and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>they're such like a holy bleep like they're actually here,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, Beckham's whole thing is like his celebrity ultimately,

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<v Speaker 1>Like he was a very good player.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm not trying to say that he wasn't.

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<v Speaker 1>He was a very good player for club and country

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<v Speaker 1>and in England. But I feel like Messi is that

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<v Speaker 1>times ten, you know. Like again, I just don't know

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<v Speaker 1>that I really have any an accurate frame of reference

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<v Speaker 1>for what that dude is for the sport that you're

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<v Speaker 1>so consumed with.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, no, I think it'd be reminiscent of when Pele

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<v Speaker 2>came to NASL in the seventies, yeah, or in the

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<v Speaker 2>late early eighties, like that was the Cosmo sold out

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<v Speaker 2>every stadium, you know, And I can't it's got to

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<v Speaker 2>be the same field because when you're so accomplished at

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<v Speaker 2>the international level, like it's one thing for the you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the the average sports fan to say, oh, I know, Messi,

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<v Speaker 2>but this is someone that you grew up idolizing and

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<v Speaker 2>watching and win all kinds of European titles, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>and being the you know, Bolondo or winner the best

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<v Speaker 2>player on the planet six or seven times or whatever

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<v Speaker 2>it is, and now you're sharing the field with them. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it would be like playing with Michael Jordan. It's the

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<v Speaker 2>same type of feel and you know very few people

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<v Speaker 2>on the plan and get the opportunity to spend even

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<v Speaker 2>a moment with some of these greats.

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<v Speaker 1>I have a little bit of a non secuitar odd

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<v Speaker 1>question for you that I wanted to ask you today

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<v Speaker 1>when I saw you on the rundown and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we're right smack dab in the middle of the NBA

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<v Speaker 1>Draft with Round one last night, round two tonight. And

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<v Speaker 1>I'm always fascinated at the dynamic of the synergies between

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<v Speaker 1>front offices and coaching staffs and how that manifests and

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<v Speaker 1>pertains to decision making processes. And every front office does

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<v Speaker 1>it different, and quite frankly, even front offices that are

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<v Speaker 1>essentially set up the same, they do a different too,

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<v Speaker 1>because people are just different, and personal are just different,

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<v Speaker 1>and priorities are just different and experiences are not the same.

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<v Speaker 1>How is the process coming along, Pablo? You've had a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of change over, and the weird thing is a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of changeover in the midst of some really good success,

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<v Speaker 1>like Elliott did build a team that was successful, and

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<v Speaker 1>you coached a team that I thought was the most

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<v Speaker 1>exciting we've had here maybe ever, but now there's a

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<v Speaker 1>new ownership group, there's a new primary decision maker. You

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<v Speaker 1>were let's see here strongly encouraged to embrace your new

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<v Speaker 1>insistent coaches, is how I'll put that. How is this

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<v Speaker 1>process coming along with the different ownership, the different front office,

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<v Speaker 1>the different coaches, and all the personalities you have in

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<v Speaker 1>the rooms where it happens, sorry, Hamilton fans, to try

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<v Speaker 1>to kind of figure out how you guys are going

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<v Speaker 1>to make this work.

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<v Speaker 2>As far as the draft moving forward next.

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<v Speaker 1>Year, just in general, just everything, whether it's you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the synergies to try to sign players or just the

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<v Speaker 1>project overall.

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<v Speaker 3>Jason Tony Kirk, you the whole thing.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, one thing and that hasn't changed from last year.

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<v Speaker 2>Whilst quite a few players have come and gone from

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<v Speaker 2>last year. The one thing that we stick to as

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<v Speaker 2>both front office and and coaching staff is our processes,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, And I think the one thing is the

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<v Speaker 2>because it takes time to develop really deep relationships like

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<v Speaker 2>those don't happen overnight, and so the processes help us

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<v Speaker 2>continue to be in the rooms after all the games

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<v Speaker 2>when there's big decisions to be made. About a player.

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<v Speaker 2>We're all in the same room where we all have

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<v Speaker 2>open dialogue. You know, we we the you know, the

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<v Speaker 2>best idea wins and how are the best idea as

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<v Speaker 2>far as how we're going to go through the process

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<v Speaker 2>wins And so it's super collaborative and and and and

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<v Speaker 2>I'll say that, you know, the the change of ownership,

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<v Speaker 2>Whilst you know it just seems like it's a t

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<v Speaker 2>there's there's now there's there's a new ownership group and

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<v Speaker 2>and their vision is, like I said earlier, is to

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<v Speaker 2>build a team that Salt Lake fans can really really

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<v Speaker 2>wrap their arms around for many years to come. And

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<v Speaker 2>so that that's obviously trying to keep players like Diego

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<v Speaker 2>Diego Luna and some of our you know, Mechanelly and

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<v Speaker 2>some of these players that are going to be the

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<v Speaker 2>core players of the team. And so I think we're

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<v Speaker 2>all aligned on those things. And I think that that

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<v Speaker 2>comes from having deeper relationships than be business titles. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>oftentimes it's a GM and a coach and those two

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<v Speaker 2>have different perspectives, and Kurt and I also have different

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<v Speaker 2>perspectives at times. But I think it's the it's the

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<v Speaker 2>communication within the constant communication within that relationship that helps

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<v Speaker 2>us both find a good middle ground to move forward

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<v Speaker 2>as a group, you know, and that involves Jason and

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<v Speaker 2>Tony and the coaching staff and then ownership as well. Right,

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<v Speaker 2>And so I think whilst it's been a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>moving parts, I think the consistency and the same people

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<v Speaker 2>in the room at least from the front office and

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<v Speaker 2>the coaching staff, has allowed for this transition to be

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<v Speaker 2>as seamless as possible whilst working to improve the group

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<v Speaker 2>moving forwards.

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<v Speaker 1>So the annual and every time this comes out, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I always just kind of find it and are interesting

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<v Speaker 1>to dig through this list. So the total roster spend

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<v Speaker 1>list was released and maybe you guys have well I

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<v Speaker 1>know you have access to this, but when it becomes public,

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<v Speaker 1>it becomes something that people debate. And you know, as

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<v Speaker 1>of now, you guys are third love you have the

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<v Speaker 1>third lowest payroll in Major League Soccer. How does something

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<v Speaker 1>like that land with the head coach of the team?

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<v Speaker 2>Again, you know, I know, I know you hate hearing

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<v Speaker 2>me say this, but like that stuff is beyond like

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<v Speaker 2>beyond our control. There's there's you know, at least beyond

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<v Speaker 2>my control. My job is to make sure I do

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<v Speaker 2>everything I can to get the best out of the

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<v Speaker 2>players that we have. Obviously there's there's room for growth

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<v Speaker 2>in that department, and we're work insteadfastly to improve the

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<v Speaker 2>group and bringing you know, some difference makers, both in

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<v Speaker 2>the attacking side and the defensive side. And so you know,

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<v Speaker 2>things obviously haven't gone the way they have the way

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<v Speaker 2>we wanted them to. But I'm always the eternal optimist,

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<v Speaker 2>and I think that through the struggles that we had

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<v Speaker 2>in the first part of the season, I mean I've

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<v Speaker 2>seen it, and I've felt that the maturity of the

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<v Speaker 2>group going through some very difficult times. And now if

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<v Speaker 2>we can stabilize the group and get a couple more

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<v Speaker 2>good results and then bringing some difference makers, I think

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<v Speaker 2>we'll set ourselves up for a good run in the

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<v Speaker 2>second half of the season, but more importantly next year

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<v Speaker 2>and beyond. So whilst the current situation is it has

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<v Speaker 2>been difficult, I think, you know, given that we have

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<v Speaker 2>money and to spend, I think it allows us to

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<v Speaker 2>now really be precise and the type of player that

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<v Speaker 2>we want, type of character that we want, and the

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<v Speaker 2>position that we need in order to really make a push.

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<v Speaker 1>You love when I ask you those questions. It just

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<v Speaker 1>makes your day. I know how much you enjoy it.

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<v Speaker 1>I appreciate your willingness to answer it. I mean, look,

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<v Speaker 1>in a roundabout way, I'm trying to get your back right,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's kind of like give the guy some ass.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, I get it. I get it. But you

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<v Speaker 2>also understand, like my standpoint for sure, if if I

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<v Speaker 2>look at it from that perspective, and I'm just the

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<v Speaker 2>victim and I'm not helping this, I'm not trying to

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<v Speaker 2>find a solution. I'm just I'm just you know, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they're just tossing blame. And one of the things I

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<v Speaker 2>never do is blame anyone. I always look at myself first,

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<v Speaker 2>and I go, man, we got to do better, Papa,

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<v Speaker 2>let's go, man, we got this, you know. And so

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<v Speaker 2>that's just my mindset. But but yeah, I think you

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<v Speaker 2>need to represent uh, you know, level of consistency and

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, elite performers to be perennial playoff to

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<v Speaker 2>be a perennial playoff team. And I think we're working

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<v Speaker 2>towards that, probably not as fast as some people would like,

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<v Speaker 2>but just know that the work is getting done behind

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<v Speaker 2>the scenes. And again, I believe in the direction we're

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<v Speaker 2>moving it and really proud of the Uh the way

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<v Speaker 2>you know the guy played last game. The guys have

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<v Speaker 2>trained the last couple of weeks leading into this game,

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<v Speaker 2>so I think we're we've got some positive momentum moving forwards.

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<v Speaker 1>Do you feel like going third person is an accurate

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<v Speaker 1>portrayal of your humility?

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<v Speaker 3>Pablo, Just kidding, I'll stop, I'll stop.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm just there's somebody that lives upstairs, Spence, and and

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<v Speaker 2>that's just the truth. And he's he's always digging in

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<v Speaker 2>and he's always trying to get me to do more.

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<v Speaker 2>But it's not third person like the the guy that's

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<v Speaker 2>better than it's third person like U. There's there's some

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<v Speaker 2>there's some person living upstairs that I'm always dealing with.

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<v Speaker 1>Now I know, man, I'm luck, I'm impossible. It's why

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<v Speaker 1>I can't stay married. So that's that's the deal. All right,

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<v Speaker 1>Moving on, you referenced your last game. Uh, let's start

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<v Speaker 1>with Johnny. Johnny Russell, who we've been waiting to see,

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<v Speaker 1>fit and inform and opens his bank account, as the

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<v Speaker 1>soccer folk will say, So let's start there. Uh, what

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<v Speaker 1>was that like for you to see him tally that goal,

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<v Speaker 1>and then and as far as what you liked the

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<v Speaker 1>performance overall.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think I'll start with just the collective team performance.

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<v Speaker 2>You know. Again, I think in soccer the ideal is

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<v Speaker 2>score a couple of goals and give nothing up. And

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<v Speaker 2>I think from top to bottom, the guys that started

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<v Speaker 2>the game, the guys that came in the game really

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<v Speaker 2>had a great impacts. So I would look at that

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<v Speaker 2>as a collective team performance. And then Johnny, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>we brought him in because we felt like we could

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<v Speaker 2>use we can lean on his experience, but also he

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<v Speaker 2>can make plays, and you know I can. I can

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<v Speaker 2>show you probably twenty five other times in the season

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<v Speaker 2>where we had the same similar situation that Johnny was

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<v Speaker 2>in and he just capitalized on it. And I think,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, as he was dribbling the ball, I knew

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<v Speaker 2>exactly what he was thinking as he was cutting across

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<v Speaker 2>the field, is that he's going to go near post

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<v Speaker 2>on the goalkeeper and use the other players a screen

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<v Speaker 2>so the goalkeeper couldn't see it. And those are things that, like, again,

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<v Speaker 2>we train them, but it's one thing to train it

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<v Speaker 2>without pressure. It's another thing to have the game feel

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<v Speaker 2>like a training session, right, and I think you have

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<v Speaker 2>to be so calm and poised in those moments that

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<v Speaker 2>are really hectic and fast, and I think Johnny's experience

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<v Speaker 2>and his quality really allowed him to do so. So

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<v Speaker 2>you know, he's been he's been struggling with a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit of an aductor. But I believe that he'll be

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<v Speaker 2>in a good way for you know, this game at

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<v Speaker 2>the weekend, and and hopefully you know he's going back home,

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<v Speaker 2>uh to to case and you know he's got you know,

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<v Speaker 2>he's he's really pumped up for this game. So both

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<v Speaker 2>him and an extra motivational aspect to their performance this

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<v Speaker 2>weekend heading into skc oh.

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<v Speaker 1>He's got to play, Boblo. He's tell him to take

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<v Speaker 1>whatever you need for the abductor. He's got to play

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<v Speaker 1>on Saturday, doesn't.

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<v Speaker 2>He Yeah, on one leg, he'd play. It would just

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<v Speaker 2>be it would it'd be impossible for him not to

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<v Speaker 2>be out in the field. And and and again it

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<v Speaker 2>was just a little strained. We were cautious with it,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, given that you know, he those were his

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<v Speaker 2>first forty five minutes and he left again with an adductor.

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<v Speaker 2>But he's recovered well, he's trained great this week. He's

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<v Speaker 2>been sharp, he's been bright, and like I said, more

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<v Speaker 2>importantly than anything else, he's motivated.

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<v Speaker 1>And if we're going to crack on Diogo because he

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<v Speaker 1>hasn't played well, we need to give him flowers for

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<v Speaker 1>when he does something heat tally the assist on Johnny's

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<v Speaker 1>goal with a very nice through ball.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and and the play that actually before he actually

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<v Speaker 2>played the through ball spence with some high level technical

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<v Speaker 2>work yep, to like Bob and we between two or

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<v Speaker 2>three guys, and and this is what we've seen in

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<v Speaker 2>Diego when he's playing out his best, you know. And

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<v Speaker 2>and and really you're absolutely right. I think it's a

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<v Speaker 2>moment to really mention how hard you know, he's worked

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<v Speaker 2>in these last couple of weeks to put himself in

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<v Speaker 2>position to play as well as he did and contribute

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<v Speaker 2>on a really really important goal. You know, he put

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<v Speaker 2>that ball in the play for Johnny, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>and so I can't say enough things because you know,

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<v Speaker 2>in sports, everyone thinks it's it's uh, everyone's got it easy, right,

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<v Speaker 2>These guys are well paid everything, you know, what could

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<v Speaker 2>possibly we're on. But we're all human beings and we

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<v Speaker 2>all suffer and we all go through good times and

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<v Speaker 2>bad times, and I think when professional athletes are going

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<v Speaker 2>through a tough time, it's times one hundred because of

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<v Speaker 2>the scrutiny from the public and it's not easy. And

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<v Speaker 2>so see what I've seen in Diego is really this

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<v Speaker 2>evolution of a man in a way that has you know,

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<v Speaker 2>he's going through probably one of the most difficult parts

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<v Speaker 2>of his life. But then stuff's on the field and

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<v Speaker 2>is one of our best players, if not our best

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<v Speaker 2>player on the weekend. So really proud of him and

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<v Speaker 2>really excited to see what he can continue building as

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<v Speaker 2>we move forward.

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<v Speaker 1>All Right, last thing, I'll set you loose on this

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<v Speaker 1>kind of a sneaky big game for a number of

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<v Speaker 1>different reasons Saturday, namely, you and SKC are right next

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<v Speaker 1>to each other. They've got nineteen, you've got eighteen. Wanting

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<v Speaker 1>to keep that momentum rolling, so give us a little

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<v Speaker 1>helped update. Do you have a chance to repeat your

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<v Speaker 1>starting eleven for the first time in months?

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<v Speaker 3>Which is wild? What do we expect? Can you see, Saturday?

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<v Speaker 3>How do you come away with three?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah? You know, I think for us it's it's it's again.

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<v Speaker 2>We I think we've learned a lot from the games

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<v Speaker 2>that we've played so far. And the one thing is

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<v Speaker 2>the way we get after the ball was really good

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<v Speaker 2>against DC. And I think when we press higher up

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<v Speaker 2>the field and we cause turnovers. Now we got guys

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<v Speaker 2>like Gozo and Reilly and Johnny in positions to really

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<v Speaker 2>counter right, and I think that's going to be really important.

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<v Speaker 2>I think the heat will play a big factor. So again,

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<v Speaker 2>dominating game or controlling the game with the ball will

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<v Speaker 2>be another critical aspect. You know, they had a game

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<v Speaker 2>Wednesday or yesterday, and so how can we really dictate

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<v Speaker 2>the game with the ball? And I think that will

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<v Speaker 2>be the key. So we've got to execute, We've we've

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<v Speaker 2>got to you know, take our chances when when when

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<v Speaker 2>they come. But more importantly is how can we control

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<v Speaker 2>the flow of the game with the ball. And I

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<v Speaker 2>think we have the team to do that.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, Buddy, thanks for the time today, Best of

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<v Speaker 1>luck throughout the weekend.

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<v Speaker 3>We'll chat soon.

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<v Speaker 2>Awesome s Bence, Thanks Budd.

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<v Speaker 1>Boblo Master Runny ourselve back at Action and on Saturday,

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<v Speaker 1>Sporting Kansas City. That's a six thirty first kick at

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<v Speaker 1>Children's Mercy Park. It can be seen on Apple tv

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<v Speaker 1>MLS Season Pass