WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.160 A big match coming out tomorrow here in the market. 2 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:06.519 Portland is in town to take on ourselves. Our next 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:09.759 guest is the head coach of Rayal sa Lake. It's 4 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:11.439 been a minute since we caught up with a great 5 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:14.240 Pablo Mastuoini. Pablo, Happy Friday, brother, how we doing? 6 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.199 Happy Friday? Spence doing well about you? 7 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:18.359 All good here? 8 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:20.920 All good here, beautiful day and vibes are good right 9 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.000 now as you guys bounce back to get that win 10 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:26.719 on Wednesday. What did you like most, Pablo about the 11 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:30.120 way you guys were able to respond after losing the 12 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.960 match to Houston last weekend. 13 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:37.039 Yeah. No, I think it was a fantastic performance. More 14 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:40.560 so from the mentality perspective, you know, I think with 15 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:44.359 all this change and a couple, you know, factors that 16 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:48.560 were beyond our control. There's there's, there's been this, and 17 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:50.600 the way the schedule has been where we've only had 18 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:54.439 a few games in the last couple of months. You know, 19 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.200 I think we've lost our way a little bit from 20 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:00.520 a mindset perspective, And I think everything starts and ends 21 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:04.519 with the way you approach the game as an individual 22 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:07.560 and how that permes into the collective. And I think 23 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:10.040 the guys that that that played on Wednesday did a 24 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:14.200 great job of pressing the right way, attacking the right way, 25 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:17.040 but more importantly, playing as a team and doing it 26 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:19.200 for one another. And I think that's what kind of 27 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:22.680 evaded us against Houston and against San Jose, which was 28 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.840 another game where I felt like we weren't playing for 29 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.760 the group. So, you know, I think it's a it's 30 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:30.359 it's important to understand that, and more so for the 31 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.319 for the players that are coming in from other countries 32 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:34.959 and joining the group this late in the season. It's 33 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:36.840 it's it's got to be clear to them what we 34 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:40.560 represent and what we stand for. Above the tactics, above 35 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:44.519 the technique, above individual performance on game day is who 36 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:47.159 are we as a group? And what I'm grateful for 37 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:50.480 is that type of performance with that result hopefully cements 38 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.480 that that mantra that we're we're doing this for the team. 39 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:55.920 You know what, I was going to ask you a 40 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.840 question about Houston, but it's Friday, it's seventy five degrees, 41 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:00.719 and I don't want to, so I'm not. We're gonna 42 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:03.359 move on from it, okay, but here's I want to 43 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:05.719 ask you a couple of things about the Dallas match. 44 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:09.360 And I've talked to you before about the process you 45 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:12.599 have in place for penalty kicks and who steps up 46 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.479 and why and all that stuff. And I suppose if 47 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.319 chi Cho's out there, it's chie Jo and maybe some 48 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.960 other options as well. And we know that Vera's got 49 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:22.840 a can. And I'm not saying he should not have 50 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:25.280 been the guy. I'll just speak for myself. I was 51 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:27.919 a little bit surprised. So take us through the thought 52 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.479 process or just the mindset, whatever unfolded. It allowed Vera 53 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.000 to step up to the spot and obviously he converted. 54 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.280 Yeah, no, I think you know, over the last year 55 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.919 and a half, I've been able to to watch Vera 56 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:43.960 in these moments. And the one thing I think is 57 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.479 really important, Spence, and I think you have a nail 58 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:47.919 on the head if chi Cho's out there. This is 59 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:51.000 not this is not even a conversation. But it was 60 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:53.280 one of the few times where we had a penalty 61 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:57.439 kick and and Chicho wasn't on the field. And and 62 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.159 so for me, the one thing I know that I'm 63 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.280 gonna get from Vera when you go to a free 64 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.039 kick or a penalty kick in this case, is that 65 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:09.240 there is zero doubt in his mind. In other words, 66 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.000 he's not trying to see where the goalie's gonna lean. 67 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.080 He's not he's not overthinking it, where I think an 68 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.599 attacking player might be trying to play a little bit 69 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:19.439 of cat and mouse, a little bit like Chicho does. 70 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.680 And I think when you as a coach, when you 71 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.680 know what you're going to get, regardless of the end result, 72 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.680 at least you know that he went in there into 73 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:33.560 that situation full of confidence and belief. And and again, 74 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.240 if there's one guy on our team that I wouldn't 75 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.199 want to stand in front of twelve yards out, it's 76 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:42.919 it's Brian Vera and so again a fantastic finish. But 77 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:45.360 but yeah, so and again it's it's not that it's 78 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.400 not I mean, obviously, in today's game, it's obviously the 79 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:53.000 nine that takes it, right, But you know, even growing 80 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.960 up and playing myself, there's there was times when center 81 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.960 backs took it because again, there's not this way to X. 82 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:02.199 They just go up and knock the ball in the corner. 83 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.759 So but hopefully Chijo will be on the field for 84 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:06.639 the next one for sure. 85 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:08.080 All Right. 86 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:13.280 You often talk about life and soccer and sport defined 87 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.720 by individual moments. What did you make of that moment 88 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.160 when Anderson Julio and you know, it's funny, Pablo, I 89 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.639 watched the replay and he didn't even look up. 90 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:23.920 I mean he must have. 91 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:27.360 He must have been seeing tendencies from the keeper prior 92 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:30.279 to that opportunity, because he just got the ball and 93 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.879 then had a nice little touch and turned around and 94 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:34.399 right when he hit it. 95 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:34.839 It's funny. 96 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.720 My first response was he underhit it, like I didn't 97 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.879 think he got enough of it. But and maybe you 98 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:43.959 can help me understand. Is that a thing that players 99 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.279 do they notice maybe five or ten minutes prior to 100 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:49.240 oh wait, he is creeping up if I get it, 101 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:51.759 Because he didn't look up, he didn't turn around, He 102 00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:53.600 just one touched and he struck it. 103 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:54.600 What did you make of that moment? 104 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:58.839 No, I think again, I think that's individual brilliance. You know, 105 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.240 over the last two years, we've had you know, Chicho 106 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:04.959 do it this year, Pablo, we just do it last 107 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:08.439 year and now and and I think it's a multitude 108 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.319 of things. One, it's obviously individual brilliance to be aware 109 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:13.959 that that is happening, which is a great thing because 110 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.199 again in soccer, it's about understanding where everyone is at 111 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.160 all times and then making the best decision available to you. 112 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:23.439 So his ability to understand that the goalkeeper is playing 113 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:28.319 off his line is awesome on Ada's part. And then 114 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.600 the execution, which is very difficult from that distance to 115 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:35.439 your point, how do you gauge a sixty yard ball? 116 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:38.600 And the funny thing is that the training not one 117 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.360 training goes by where these guys, especially the attacking players, 118 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.399 aren't picking out a goal out in the distance and 119 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:46.680 they're like, okay, one hop into that goal, you know, 120 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.959 So like, I don't know if that's subconsciously training it, 121 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.240 but it's definitely something that we don't go over. That's 122 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.199 a low quality chance, so we don't even talk about that. 123 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:58.319 But I think the reason why you're seeing this more 124 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.439 and more all over the world is too one, teams 125 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:05.120 want to press higher up the field, which means the 126 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.519 most goalies are playing like a sweeper keeper, right, so 127 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:10.439 they're protecting the space behind and that's kind of what 128 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:14.399 happened in that particular play. And the other part is 129 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:16.439 is a lot of teams are using goalkeepers and builds, 130 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.959 so now they're you know, playing twenty five yards out 131 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.639 from goals, So if you steal a ball, these moments 132 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.079 are more readily available than they were back when I 133 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.360 was playing in you know, nineties and eighties, and these 134 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.079 kind of things were goalkeepers were just goalkeepers. So the 135 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:32.920 more that they're becoming more field players and have more 136 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.560 responsibilities with the ball and defending the line, that is 137 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:39.519 extremely high. I think these moments will continue to present themselves. 138 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:42.120 All right, So we're learning about some of these new players, 139 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:44.319 and I do have a question in a moment about 140 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.600 the macro situation of getting them accustomed to what you 141 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:50.839 want them to do. But that run up the right 142 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.959 side from Dominick, Mark Zuoke and the cross and Anderson Julio, 143 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.279 that was arc man. 144 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.360 That was brilliant start to finish. 145 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.839 I mean the problem is the highlight lights later on, 146 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:04.639 like the highlight shows just showed the cross, but the turn, 147 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:07.360 the run, the I mean that was one of the 148 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:09.560 first times that I mean, I haven't seen him play much, 149 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.879 but that should indicate to RSL fans and there's some 150 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.399 quality with this young kid. What do you so two 151 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.040 part question, What did you make of that snapshot moment? 152 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.040 And what can you share with us about how he's 153 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.160 looked from a macro standpoint. 154 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.839 Yeah, so I would even rewinding a little further because 155 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.399 it was actually a great team goal where Justin Glad 156 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:31.199 plays it out to Philip Quinton, he gets pressured and 157 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:35.839 he zips the ball out to Dom, and Dom just 158 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.560 an individual play that is just awesome. And these kind 159 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.319 of moments are exactly what we saw in the video 160 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.920 when we were scouting him from Poland, is his ability 161 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:46.279 to make good decisions on the end line and then 162 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:50.240 have the quality to pick out the best option with 163 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:52.160 the right way to pass. And that's exactly what he 164 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.600 did on that goal. So I think, and I don't 165 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:56.759 know if you saw his reaction to it, it was like, 166 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.639 thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this. 167 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.279 You know. He was so excited, obviously for the team, 168 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:05.639 but himself because I think some of the there's a 169 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:07.480 lot of doubt when you're going from league to league 170 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.120 and you're a really young player and you don't have 171 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.759 a lot of experience. So it couldn't have come at 172 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.639 a better time for for Dom and his integration to 173 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.199 the group, and and the other thing. It's really important 174 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:20.639 for for our forwards, you know, and and and and Chicho. 175 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:24.920 To understand is that he's now shown his quality to 176 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.199 find the nine in the box. And so once you 177 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:30.319 have that, now the idea is, can we get our 178 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:34.000 nines playing more central, more more close around the goal, 179 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:36.720 because now we have a player that can finds you 180 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:40.559 in these areas. And then you know, I think for us, 181 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:44.759 you know, after Andres left, it's really about who you know, 182 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.480 how long is it going to take for these younger 183 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:53.440 players to accomate newer players, And you know, we played 184 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.039 lockey out there. He did a really good job, but 185 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.759 he likes to come inside on his left foot. And 186 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:00.159 now we saw in this game that Dom did a 187 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:02.480 really good job. And I'll also say the work that 188 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:07.039 he did defensively was awesome, really high level stuff that 189 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:09.000 usually takes a lot of time, but he did a 190 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:12.440 really good job of making it difficult for for that 191 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:16.159 whole right side. So I feel like it's these kind 192 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:19.320 of moments that you know, bring a lot of belief 193 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:22.720 into the individual, and I think given his performance, brings 194 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.639 a lot of belief to the group. 195 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:28.200 All Right, help me understand what happened with the hayesus 196 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:32.360 FTA free kick, because I still am confused now it 197 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:35.639 was a hell of a strike actually by him. But 198 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.360 I don't know, Like if I was playing FIFA, I 199 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.320 would have thrown my controller and said you're cheating. I 200 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:43.919 felt I felt like that was my reaction. I'm like, 201 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:47.120 you're cheating, I'm resetting the Xbox. What happened there? 202 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:51.759 Yeah, So it was it was strange, and again it's 203 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:54.320 it's so interesting. These are all things that we talked 204 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.000 about in the preseason that we hit on and if 205 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.960 you don't get hurt by it somewhere along the somewhere 206 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.279 along the regular season, then you don't really bring it 207 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.840 up because it's almost like a known action. Right. So 208 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:08.360 when when Cropsey commits the foul, the first thing you 209 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.279 do when it's around the goal is the person that 210 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.720 foul the player is, stands in front of the ball 211 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.720 and he waits for the referee to say back up. 212 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:21.159 So one, when you do that, you buy time for 213 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.840 the rest of the group to set up behind it, 214 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:25.159 whether you're going to go with a line to defend 215 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:27.120 a wide free kick or you're going to set up 216 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:30.159 a wall. And so then the other part of that 217 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:33.159 is gab setting up the setting trying to set up 218 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:35.559 a wall. A two man wall, but there's no one 219 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.759 in front of the ball, and I think it's it's 220 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.840 just a great learning opportunity for GAB is like, you 221 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.519 can't set anyone up or prepare to set anyone up 222 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:46.480 if there's no one there right you. You you've got 223 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:49.360 to protect the goal because at any point unless the 224 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.919 referee says on the whistle, and that usually happens when 225 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:55.759 you have someone stand on the ball and they the 226 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.200 referee has to mark off ten yards and so then 227 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:01.120 the referee goes okay on the whistle and now we 228 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:04.120 can start setting up and all these things. So what 229 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.519 you said it was it was a video game moment 230 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:11.960 that rarely happens and one that is that will never 231 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.039 happen again with our group. 232 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.840 So you reference something after the game, And I wanted 233 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:19.200 to dig into this a little bit because we've talked 234 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:22.480 a lot talk to Jay about this this week about 235 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.240 the system that you've been wanting to implement, and you 236 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.360 started to implement the system in the offseason and carried 237 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.279 over with some excellent results, and you were playing a 238 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.559 lot more in possession. And when you guys are in possession, 239 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:36.039 it feels like you're really dangerous and sometimes when you're 240 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:38.799 chasing it a little bit, it feels like you're very vulnerable. 241 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:42.080 And the message that you sent, at least via pregame 242 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.559 was we want to play in possession, we want to 243 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:46.279 keep the ball, but when we lose the ball, it's 244 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.360 eleven dogs after the ball. 245 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:50.080 And you looked at the camera and you winked a 246 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:50.519 little bit. 247 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.879 Okay, and so you could see, like, you know, I 248 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:57.159 like your facial expression. You know, you could you could 249 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.840 see what you were saying is this is how I 250 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:00.799 used to play, and I want my players to play 251 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.279 this way. And it's kind of a consistent theme in 252 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:05.720 our conversations is do you guys have the force and 253 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.440 the bite to go win something special? 254 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.399 Because you have to have force and bite to do that. 255 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:12.679 So how do you how do you kind of translate 256 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.399 that message to your players, and how do you feel 257 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.159 like it's been received? You know, when you're not in possession, 258 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.919 do everything you can to get the ball back. 259 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.720 Yeah, you know. I again, I attribute a lot of 260 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.360 this to the fact that there's been so much change 261 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:31.120 within the group and it's gonna you know, and and 262 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:33.840 all the different dynamics that come about with like the 263 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:36.399 guys that are still here with new guys coming in, 264 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:40.879 and it's just like it's such a turbulent time and 265 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.600 then you're not getting the results, and so it's like, 266 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.240 how do we peel peel all this back and talk 267 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.840 about under the hood, what does it look like? Who 268 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:51.679 are we like? What makes us go? Because again we 269 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.480 we've talked a lot about in possession, but for me, 270 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:59.360 mentality always stems from the way you defend. And why 271 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:02.200 defending for me is so important is because it's this 272 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:06.120 most selfless act you can do in professional sports. Right, 273 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:08.000 The selfish acts are wanting to be the guy in 274 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.120 front of the goal. Right, that's easy, Like, that's that's 275 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.840 what you know. The hard thing is is a forward 276 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.399 track in somebody back thirty or forty yards, a pivot 277 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:21.240 chasing someone to the sideline, you know, a ten sprinting 278 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:23.039 out of the line to put pressure on the ball. 279 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.240 Like these things are all selfless because at the end 280 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.600 of the day, the attackers just want to attack. But 281 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:30.519 what we've learned about our group is what got us 282 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.840 in a good run of for him was we were 283 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.320 very dangerous with the ball, but we were really really 284 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.480 difficult to play against when we didn't have the ball 285 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.399 because we were just putting pressure on the first guy, 286 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.000 pressure on the second guy, the guy that the back 287 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.120 line was able to step up and put real pressure. 288 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:48.399 And so what I've seen in the last probably you know, 289 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.840 two or three games, particularly the San Jose home game 290 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:55.039 and the Houston away game, was this like, we're going 291 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.960 to wait for the guys back there to win the 292 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.919 ball and then they can just give it to us. 293 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.360 So we're playing with like six dogs, right, and so 294 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.879 it just makes sense that when you have eleven dogs 295 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:09.200 working for each other, and more in particular the front 296 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.840 four working hard for the team, those guys in the 297 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:14.039 back will sell their souls to the devil to do 298 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.879 whatever it takes to give those guys the ball when 299 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:19.000 they see them working that hard. However, the foot part 300 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:21.080 of that, if they don't work hard from the defensive 301 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:25.279 standpoint up front, the lack of predictability breeds so much 302 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.080 doubt within the whole team that you end up not 303 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:31.240 being good without the ball, and then when you get it, 304 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.679 there's so much doubt you're not good with the ball, 305 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:38.039 and it becomes this cycle. And so we when we 306 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:40.399 get pressure on the ball at all times, we are 307 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:42.799 present minded. This guy goes, this guy covers, this guy goes, 308 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:45.120 this guy covers, and it's like you're just playing from 309 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.440 a place to flow. When you're not getting pressure on 310 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:49.399 the ball, everyone is guessing what the next guy is 311 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.120 going to do because there's no real clear trigger to 312 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.200 make play predictable for the guys behind. And so when 313 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.919 you have a game like we had against Dallas, where 314 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:59.720 it was really front foot defensive, you end up scoring 315 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:03.080 three goals, right, and granted there were strange goals. There 316 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.799 are anomalies in a lot of ways, but that's what 317 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:08.200 I feel like the game gives you because you're almost 318 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:10.240 it's like a self fulfilling prosoty. We're going to be 319 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:12.240 on the front foot, we're going to be aggressive, and 320 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:15.080 with that comes the ball in the attacking half. With 321 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:18.080 that comes with loose balls being won closer to their goal. 322 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.679 And so that's that's got to be who we are. 323 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:24.080 So that's clear to the guys that are coming into 324 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:27.039 the group. These are the expectations, these are the standards, 325 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.799 regardless of the positions. We're eleven dogs. When we have it, 326 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:34.519 play play to your quality and everyone's got different qualities. 327 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.440 But when we don't have it, you're one of the 328 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.080 dogs that we need to make sure we get that 329 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.600 ball back. 330 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.320 So I'm not going to say it was the most 331 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:45.639 impressive individual moment because I thought, obviously Anderson's goal was 332 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:48.639 nuts in that run up the up the flank by 333 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.200 Mark Zuke and La Crosse was pretty pretty brilliant. But 334 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.279 the goal that Diogo had that was called back, I 335 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.000 rewound that and watched it like five times, like that 336 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:01.360 was a skill check. Now it was off, that didn't count. 337 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.679 But you know, all these new players, we're all we're 338 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.159 all trying to get to know him a little bit. 339 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.399 In that moment right there, I think for a lot 340 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.440 of people, even though it was called back, was another 341 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.480 indicator that you might have something special on your hands. 342 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.879 How's the project coming along? Trying to ingratiate Diogo into 343 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.559 what you want to do? 344 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:21.240 Yeah, no, it's he listened. He's a fantastic player, he's 345 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:25.080 a fantastic teammate and and and I think with him 346 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.879 within our with just coming to MLS in Europe, you 347 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.159 have a more i don't want to say sophisticated, but 348 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.679 there's a lot more respect with teams, Like there's very 349 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:37.039 few teams in Europe that high press the way we do, 350 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:42.440 and in our league everyone high presses right, So in 351 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.759 Europe it's more like, oh, you have the ball, well 352 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.639 we'll drop back by midfield and we'll find gaps. What 353 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.320 he's brilliant at is finding the space between the lines 354 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:53.519 to receive. And he's a technician, and I think that 355 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.720 play that you're talking about is case in point. Diego 356 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:01.279 has an eye for goal, Diego the technique to be 357 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:05.279 able to execute it. I think the transition between the 358 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.680 two leagues is how do I create that kind of 359 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.119 space for myself where in Europe it would be very available, 360 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.839 where a lot of times in the MLS's helter skelter 361 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:16.640 in around goal, and so in Europe you might be 362 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.759 able to turn in that pocket and in the MLS, 363 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.039 for whatever reason, there's a guy that's waiting to just 364 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.720 smash you and and so you don't have as much 365 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.799 space in and around goal that I feel like you 366 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.000 can find at times in Europe. And so there's there's 367 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.839 no doubt in my mind that Diego is going to 368 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:33.359 be a top player for this team. I think the 369 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:37.559 challenge for myself and the staff is always thinking about 370 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:41.880 how can we put our group that understands clearly what 371 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.079 we want in this moment now, whilst bringing these guys 372 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:50.400 along and in a role that allows them to understand 373 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:54.440 the mentality the tactics so that they can fully execute 374 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.440 their technique versus you know, square peg, round hole. It's 375 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:00.240 not it's not clicking quite yet, but that's fine. It's 376 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.920 not his fault that we you know, we got here 377 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.440 with seven games left. That's just life. And now it's 378 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:08.119 our jobs to try to find that that that that 379 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.599 connection between He's a really special player and you know, 380 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:15.680 he plays really well with this cut these three guys, 381 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.279 but struggles a little bit with this guy against this 382 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.079 type of system, and so there's still you know, a 383 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:23.160 learning curve to go. But there is no doubt in 384 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.079 my mind that Diego is a special player and that 385 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:29.000 will just need a little bit of time to transition to, 386 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.400 you know, to being the guy. 387 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.759 All right before we set you lose your win combined 388 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.960 with like a ridiculous amount of results that went RSLs way, 389 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:40.440 which is awesome. On Wednesday, bumps you up to second. 390 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:44.480 No rest for the weary Portland is in town tomorrow. 391 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.039 They're the highest scoring team in the West and second 392 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.720 only to Miami with sixty goals scored, So according to numbers, 393 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.440 they score a lot of goals and they give up 394 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.319 a lot of goals. 395 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.000 That's what's in front of me. 396 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.799 So tell me about Portland, Pablo, what do you have 397 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:59.200 to do to go get all three tomorrow night? 398 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.279 Yeah? I think you said it. They're they're a team 399 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:06.680 that that attacks really well, and at times they're you know, 400 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.920 they're they're they're poor us in the back. And I 401 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:11.599