Speaker 1: Coming off with draw another goal from Diego, technical director
Speaker 1: for the local soccer club. Here for Rayal saw Lake.
Speaker 1: I always funny. Catch up with Kurt Schmid. Kurt, happy money, buddy.
Speaker 1: How are we doing?
Speaker 2: I'm doing well. How are you?
Speaker 3: I'm good, buddy, I'm good. Right out of the gates?
Speaker 1: Is Diego better already than you ever thought he could be?
Speaker 1: Like when you first saw him play and started to
Speaker 1: scout him, has he even superseded your expectations for him?
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a good question. He's definitely better now than
Speaker 2: I thought he would be, probat of the first time
Speaker 2: I saw him play, but as we scouted him more
Speaker 2: in USL, and for me, the moment where it really
Speaker 2: clicked was actually down in Argentina. He was at a
Speaker 2: U twenty camp and I was down there scouting some
Speaker 2: games and one of them was the U twenty's playing
Speaker 2: River Plate reserves, and so he came off the bench
Speaker 2: in that game, and they didn't really bring a lot
Speaker 2: of strikers, so I think they only had one nine
Speaker 2: in the group, and so the nine started and then
Speaker 2: they brought Diego on at the nine and he he
Speaker 2: just changed the whole game, and obviously it was the
Speaker 2: reserves at River, So it wasn't maybe the most elite
Speaker 2: level at the moment, but it's still a pretty good
Speaker 2: level for that age group. And uh and watching him
Speaker 2: sort of change the game in that environment just gave
Speaker 2: me a real glimpse of what he could do. It's
Speaker 2: given the chance and given the right platform, and honestly,
Speaker 2: you know, he's he's obviously continuing to fulfill that. I
Speaker 2: don't want to say he's done. I think he's continuing
Speaker 2: to grow. You know, you see it every week. But
Speaker 2: that was the moment for me. And you know, I
Speaker 2: got some really good feedback on him from from from
Speaker 2: my friend of mine who was actually his coach and
Speaker 2: Opasta at the time, who you know, couldn't couldn't speak
Speaker 2: more highly of him as a person, as a character,
Speaker 2: and thought that he you know, he was someone that
Speaker 2: really had to drive to succeed. And I put a
Speaker 2: lot of trust in that as well. So you know,
Speaker 2: that was sort of the story there.
Speaker 1: Are you aware that there is a very famous Mexican
Speaker 1: actor and director named Diego Luna. I just did a
Speaker 1: little Google search and I just learned that today. Are
Speaker 1: you aware of that?
Speaker 2: I am aware? I had to approve Diego's the meeting
Speaker 2: of the two Diegos a few weeks ago.
Speaker 3: Oh all right, we'll learn something new every day. Let
Speaker 3: me follow up.
Speaker 1: And you referenced when you were first scouting him that
Speaker 1: the club he was with did bring him on as
Speaker 1: a nine, and more often than not, at least from
Speaker 1: my prism, he has been asked by you guys to
Speaker 1: be more of a distributor and more of a creative player.
Speaker 1: And you just look at his stats over the years,
Speaker 1: more assists. You know, it's not like he hasn't been
Speaker 1: scoring goals, but he's scoring goals.
Speaker 3: At such a high level.
Speaker 1: Did you know he had this type of goal scoring
Speaker 1: prowess because for me, it's always been more of like
Speaker 1: a central attacking midfielder that provides service to the strikers
Speaker 1: up top.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, that's sort of the wrap for an
Speaker 2: attacking midfielders. They're supposed to be more provider than goalscorer.
Speaker 2: But when he first started an Alpasso as a very
Speaker 2: young player, he was playing like a left sided forward essentially,
Speaker 2: not really a ten, not really a nine, but he
Speaker 2: would come off the left where you know, he actually
Speaker 2: played a lot of time for US as well, and
Speaker 2: just create a lot of danger, be very goal oriented.
Speaker 2: And so, you know, I think that was part of
Speaker 2: his appeal in USL. Part of the things, you know,
Speaker 2: one of the things that drew people and drew us
Speaker 2: to him was his ability to be productive in front
Speaker 2: of goal. And I think, you know, the question is, always, okay,
Speaker 2: player is productive at a lower level. Can he be
Speaker 2: productive at a higher level, And that's the big question mark.
Speaker 2: And obviously if he doesn't score goals at the lower level,
Speaker 2: then the odds of him scoring goals at our level
Speaker 2: are not very high. But even players that do score,
Speaker 2: let's say in the USL, don't always translate. And so
Speaker 2: we knew we had that potential in him. And I
Speaker 2: think honestly, the first year and a half or so
Speaker 2: with us, it was actually about getting him to be
Speaker 2: more comfortable being that goal oriented. And I know Pavel's
Speaker 2: talked a lot about getting him to work on the
Speaker 2: defensive side, and I think that was also a big
Speaker 2: part of it. But on the on the attacking side,
Speaker 2: it wasn't just about getting your touches on the ball.
Speaker 2: You know, if him if he's receiving passes, cyberd passes
Speaker 2: from center backs, like that wasn't something that we were
Speaker 2: interested in or that he should be interested in. It
Speaker 2: was it was about being decisive in the final third
Speaker 2: and getting him to to add those counting stats to
Speaker 2: his to his line. And so he's he's obviously done
Speaker 2: that a lot last year and then so far for
Speaker 2: us this year. But yeah, that's one of the things
Speaker 2: that truest to him.
Speaker 4: Honestly, twenty one excuse me, twenty one years old, So
Speaker 4: of course he is not close to a finished product,
Speaker 4: what if anything, And you know, there's part of this
Speaker 4: current that kind of reminds me of a conversation that
Speaker 4: people used to have about Nicki Rimando, where you know,
Speaker 4: if Nick was six', three six,' four Probably a, european,
Speaker 4: keeper right probably a guy that could have played in
Speaker 4: a number of leagues and maybe the biggest.
Speaker 1: Of Leagues and diego suddenly is not going to change his.
Speaker 1: Body composition he's not going To Become Anderson. Julio, fast,
Speaker 1: SO like i guess that's just some CONTEXT before i,
Speaker 1: asked you what do You think diego needs to? Improve
Speaker 1: upon should he have these aspirations of playing in some
Speaker 1: of the bigger Leagues.
Speaker 3: In, EUROPE.
Speaker 2: Yeah i don't think it's about adding, you know a
Speaker 2: whole lot of different things to his game than what
Speaker 2: you see from him. Right now it's really about being
Speaker 2: more consistent and the having consistent quality to his decision
Speaker 2: making the final third and his actions in the final.
Speaker 2: Third especially but, you know as once you show you
Speaker 2: can do, these things, you know for for a, young
Speaker 2: player the real challenge and one of the reasons people
Speaker 2: you just like quote experienced players more is because those
Speaker 2: players have learned how to be consistent and how to
Speaker 2: kind of perform at a consistent level on a. Consistent
Speaker 2: basis and so that's that's really what it is, for
Speaker 2: him and so as he's building on, you know his,
Speaker 2: statistical seasons it's it's just about, being consistent, you know
Speaker 2: from from season, to season from game, to game from
Speaker 2: play to play within, the game and being switched on
Speaker 2: all the time and just, you know being a guy
Speaker 2: that people can. Rely, on so, YOU know i think
Speaker 2: he's showing that now. For sure but it isn't about
Speaker 2: adding a whole lot of. DIFFERENT things i think he's
Speaker 2: shown the player he is and the things he, can
Speaker 2: do and it's just about continuing to. Do them over
Speaker 2: and over.
Speaker 1: Again again i'll bring out the fact that he's, twenty
Speaker 1: one just because it feels like you guys are asking
Speaker 1: him to just shoulder a. Big load and, you Know
Speaker 1: tonight kurt IS The nba, Draft lottery so we were
Speaker 1: DOING some nba Earlier and Jannis Wants, adam milwaukee and,
Speaker 1: you know kind of a conversation about teams relying heavily
Speaker 1: on one individual talent and then it's the job of
Speaker 1: people like you whose decisions are intertwined into constructing the
Speaker 1: roster to make sure the talent. Is, Supported, right so
Speaker 1: do you feel like he has enough around him or
Speaker 1: do you feel like you guys are asking him to do, a.
Speaker 2: Lot, you know asking him to do. A lot at,
Speaker 2: THE moment i think he's picking up. Some slack whether we're,
Speaker 2: you know explicitly, saying hey you got to do this
Speaker 2: or else or anything, LIKE that i, don't know but.
Speaker 2: He is he is picking up a lot of slack,
Speaker 2: right now which is great for us and it's great
Speaker 2: for him in. HIS development i think we can continue
Speaker 2: to build pieces. AROUND him i think he's got some
Speaker 2: good pieces, around him, you know but we can continue
Speaker 2: to add those pieces that can that can highlight him a,
Speaker 2: little bit that can, push him and that can contribute. To. Success,
Speaker 2: yeah absolutely, All.
Speaker 1: Right so last year summer, transfer window you guys brought
Speaker 1: in a number, of PIECES and i can remember talking
Speaker 1: to both You and Pablo And jason toni but everybody
Speaker 1: about the decision to Bring, in diogo who on your
Speaker 1: roster is the only. Designated player and there were moments
Speaker 1: last year where you could see, the quality but it
Speaker 1: felt like the walking Line was diego needs a Preseason
Speaker 1: with pablo and with this staff so he can acclimate
Speaker 1: to what we're asking him, to do so he can
Speaker 1: acclimate to play in, and altitude so he can acclimate
Speaker 1: to Playing in major.
Speaker 3: League soccer at, What, point kurt do we kind.
Speaker 1: Of look at this entire situation, and wonder, you know
Speaker 1: whether or not he is going to get? This right
Speaker 1: and maybe there Are things i'm Not seeing and again
Speaker 1: there are, moments right and THAT'S why i don't want
Speaker 1: TO be i approach this job is more observation and
Speaker 1: not conclusion or DISMISS.
Speaker 3: OR anoi, i mean this is, a long.
Speaker 1: Long season it's a it's a season that is, a
Speaker 1: marathon as we talked. About before but at what point
Speaker 1: do we kind of look at the thing and wonder
Speaker 1: or not if maybe the evaluation.
Speaker 3: Was off is? That, fair.
Speaker 2: Look players all adapt at, Different Rates and i'm not
Speaker 2: someone who thinks pre season is a magical period of
Speaker 2: time where where everyone can can discover their form and
Speaker 2: become the player that, they want they want that we
Speaker 2: want them. TO be i think it's really just about
Speaker 2: time with, a coach time with, your teammates and time in.
Speaker 2: A league and, you know more time equals, more adaptation
Speaker 2: which poles more comfort and confidence and should equal higher.
Speaker 2: Quality play and different players need different amounts. Of time
Speaker 2: some players can hit the, ground running, you know As,
Speaker 2: in seattle We Signed nikolas ladero and he hit the
Speaker 2: ground running day one and and didn't need any time
Speaker 2: to adapt to his teammates or to the league and
Speaker 2: Became an it's a. Difference maker and you know there's
Speaker 2: some players that need six or twelve months to adapt
Speaker 2: and maybe their second year that's when they really blossom,
Speaker 2: and bloom. You know so you Look at DIALS and
Speaker 2: i think he brings a lot of quality to. The
Speaker 2: team he's, WORKING defensively, I know i know Within what
Speaker 2: pablo was asking and and he's adds a lot of
Speaker 2: quality on the ball and the. Build up when he's on,
Speaker 2: the ball his decisions are, Generally better his technicobility. Is
Speaker 2: good he's getting himself in really. GOOD spots i was
Speaker 2: actually talking to someone about, this today, you know in
Speaker 2: terms of some of his statistics and. Underlying numbers and,
Speaker 2: you know he's getting into into spots where he's, created chances,
Speaker 2: you know with, expected assists or he's he's, you know
Speaker 2: getting chances of himself with, expected goals and and right
Speaker 2: now he's underperforming, those numbers, You know and that's that's
Speaker 2: an objective analysis at, this point right those those two specific,
Speaker 2: numbers especially he's he's underperforming. Them NOW and i think
Speaker 2: the expectation that he would have for himself and that
Speaker 2: we have, for him is that he, at least, you
Speaker 2: know bas, you know gets that part right and scores
Speaker 2: and assists what what can be expected based on on
Speaker 2: the quality chances he's getting and setting up. For others
Speaker 2: and expected assist is kind of a weird one because,
Speaker 2: you know he plays a. GREAT ball i THINK he's
Speaker 2: i think he's gonna play the Ball into Willie will
Speaker 2: he doesn't, shoot okay there's no expected. Assist there so
Speaker 2: it's a little tough, one too because you can't do
Speaker 2: both ends, of it. YOU know i think there are
Speaker 2: some moments where he'll demand more of himself and will
Speaker 2: demand more, Of him and, you know we're always evaluating
Speaker 2: everyone and they're fit within the team and how they're,
Speaker 2: helping us and and that type of pressure is no
Speaker 2: different to him or anyone helse on. That team, BUT
Speaker 2: yeah i think the expectation is that he meets those
Speaker 2: expectations from the standpoint of those, you know expectables RESPECTIVEST
Speaker 2: and i think he's he's adding the defensive work Rate
Speaker 2: that pabo's. Looking for if, he's not, you know pabas
Speaker 2: holding him accountable, To that and so That's that heart's been.
Speaker 2: Really positive he's been. Bought in he just needs to
Speaker 2: execute in those.
Speaker 1: Final moments good, breakdown there same Question about Dom about Don. Mark,
Speaker 1: ZUK now i Understand that dom has some personal challenges,
Speaker 1: right NOW and i always try to. Be fair these
Speaker 1: are humans that have families and they have issues like.
Speaker 1: Everybody ELSE so i don't know if you can provide
Speaker 1: any color and context. To that if, if so, Feel
Speaker 1: FREE but i kind of feel the same Way about
Speaker 1: DOM that i Feel, about diogo where there are times
Speaker 1: where he'll play in across or he'll, you know he'll
Speaker 1: he'll score a goal or a provide service and, you're, like,
Speaker 1: wow MAN he i can see in him what you
Speaker 1: guys saw on him to bring. Him over but it's
Speaker 1: kind of the, Same, thing kurt. Isn't it we just
Speaker 1: need a little. More consistency so what's the analysis on
Speaker 1: the performance of Don mark suit?
Speaker 2: So? FAR yeah I mean i think you you you
Speaker 2: actually gave a very good analysis soccer guy. Over here
Speaker 2: he gets in. Good spots the quality this decision making
Speaker 2: in the final third going FORWARD is i think. Very
Speaker 2: good but the consistency of his his execution on that
Speaker 2: decision making is not. ALWAYS there i think you can
Speaker 2: see the types of balls that. HE plays i think
Speaker 2: no one else on the team can. Actually, hit uh
Speaker 2: you know the ball he played Into pay suits for
Speaker 2: the goal that got called Back. In nashville that was a, phenomenal,
Speaker 2: Pass right and he's done that multiple times for us
Speaker 2: in games. And training we see that all, the time
Speaker 2: and and that that quality and that decision making. Is there,
Speaker 2: the consistency like, we Said, for, Diel, right like that's
Speaker 2: the piece that the needs to be added to, the
Speaker 2: game and so we need to. Get him he needs
Speaker 2: to find a way to get himself into those high
Speaker 2: leverage spots more often so that we can utilize the quality.
Speaker 2: Decision making. You know but you look at it, right
Speaker 2: now and competition is good when we, want, Competition right
Speaker 2: And so ghoso's come in and give us some really
Speaker 2: really good shifts and so, you know credit to him
Speaker 2: for taking. His OPPORTUNITY and i think while you're while you're,
Speaker 2: doing well you're, you know no one's gonna gonna sit, you,
Speaker 2: Down right so now It's about dom saying to him, the,
Speaker 2: Hell hey i'm, YOU know i want to get back out.
Speaker 2: There right and we've seen that with with other Players.
Speaker 2: In alaska train has had to deal with something similar
Speaker 2: this year. As well so competition is good and we're
Speaker 2: looking to push. Those guys but, You know dom's a
Speaker 2: guy that has a lot. Of quality obviously as RECENTLY
Speaker 2: as i think the last international window was in was
Speaker 2: in the full national Team, With poland so, YOU know
Speaker 2: i think there's there's there's a lot of potential and
Speaker 2: quality there and we're just helping them get get.
Speaker 3: It, Out, so kurt YOU lead mls in. Red cards,
Speaker 3: my guy.
Speaker 2: You're gonna get started on.
Speaker 1: This, ONE well, i mean LOOK like i watch all,
Speaker 1: the games, AND uh i think there have Been some
Speaker 1: well one one red card was actually rescinded because it was,
Speaker 1: So pathetic but there are a couple. Of others the
Speaker 1: ONE that i think It was Pole against dallas here was.
Speaker 1: Beyond dumb so what what what's fair to say about
Speaker 1: just simply. THAT dynamic, i mean, on paper if people
Speaker 1: aren't watching and they see that YOU lead mls and,
Speaker 1: red cards, it's, like well are? They undisciplined but if,
Speaker 1: you're watching you've also been. Hard done SO when i say,
Speaker 1: To You, kurt schmid your TEAM leads mls and, red
Speaker 1: cards what is?
Speaker 3: Your, RESPONSE.
Speaker 2: Yeah i mean we've got four. RED cards I think, i,
Speaker 2: think uh, you know one of them is, you know
Speaker 2: we obviously didn't appeal. And it, you know we can
Speaker 2: see why that's a. RED card i don't think it.
Speaker 2: WAS malicious i think it was a little it was
Speaker 2: awkward and, poorly timed but went into it recklessly, and okay.
Speaker 2: No problem you know another one. That rescinded the third
Speaker 2: was a second yellow for time, we Thing and i'm
Speaker 2: nearly positive the referee forgot that he had just given.
Speaker 2: Body yellow and then, this one which, You Know i'm
Speaker 2: i'm doing a lot of research on this one to
Speaker 2: to throw some data at the at the, league about, you,
Speaker 2: know what what's going on in, this SITUATION because i
Speaker 2: think you see this type of moment happen multiple times
Speaker 2: a game and certainly mold times a weekend across the
Speaker 2: league with with no. Action TAKEN and i, understand that,
Speaker 2: you know it's a higher leverage moment and you're looking for,
Speaker 2: a penalty and that maybe makes the referee think it's
Speaker 2: worthy of a. Yellow card but, you know as you
Speaker 2: look at the replay, multiple times it's really hard for
Speaker 2: me to say that he definitely without a shadow that was.
Speaker 2: Not TOUCHED and i think IT'S really i was gonna,
Speaker 2: say harsh but maybe that's not even a strong, Enough
Speaker 2: word like it's kind of insane to make a game,
Speaker 2: changing decision, you know based, on that in, my opinion
Speaker 2: like a second yellow for a dive where, the video,
Speaker 2: you know slow motion replay doesn't even clearly indicate that
Speaker 2: the guy, Wasn't touched and, YOU know i think he
Speaker 2: was touched that he thinks he, has touched and, you
Speaker 2: know maybe he could have stayed up or should have.
Speaker 2: Stayed up but, sometimes referees, you know don't give you
Speaker 2: a foul if you get fouled and you. Stay up
Speaker 2: and so you've got, you know you've got players in
Speaker 2: these two minds, of well, you KNOW if i, stay
Speaker 2: UP maybe i get a shot off THEN but i
Speaker 2: don't get the foul and it could be, a penalty
Speaker 2: AND maybe i missed. The shot and like, you know
Speaker 2: he's doing all this calculation in his head at light
Speaker 2: speed right in the in the moment and has to
Speaker 2: make it split. Second decision so It's really i'm really
Speaker 2: DISAPPOINTED in i think some of the refereeing decisions that
Speaker 2: have gone. Our way and you know that doesn't even
Speaker 2: take into account the red card that sort of been Given.
Speaker 2: Against love it's uh In. IN nashville i, think that,
Speaker 2: you know even Apart from willie's, SECOND yellow i think
Speaker 2: there WERE some i think the yellow card distribution in
Speaker 2: this game was wasn't. Quite equitable, SO yeah i don't
Speaker 2: to TELL you i think there's an element of discipline.
Speaker 2: TO that i don't think that NUMBER for us shows
Speaker 2: a gross, you know. INDISCIPLINE epidemic I think i think
Speaker 2: the two you know, AGAIN again i think the last
Speaker 2: three that we've gotten, you know one was obviously rescinded
Speaker 2: in the two. SECOND yellows i think, we're incredibly. Incredibly
Speaker 2: harsh and so while we can ALWAYS and i HOPE
Speaker 2: and i want the team and the players, to do
Speaker 2: is to look within, and, think well WHAT could i
Speaker 2: have done to have prevented this this situation from happening?
Speaker 2: To IT so i think there are things that we
Speaker 2: can do to, affect it and we should take. THAT
Speaker 2: responsibility i know this, players do but, you, know me
Speaker 2: looking at it from, MY seat i think it's incredibly
Speaker 2: harsh by the officials in all those situations and couldn't
Speaker 2: have been given.
Speaker 1: As, is so Of course willie Will miss wednesday's tilt
Speaker 1: against Poor Lynd johnny russ available for Selection. Against dallas
Speaker 1: so let's move into the space of the two, new
Speaker 1: acquisitions what you've seen in training, and again unfortunately we
Speaker 1: will Not see Willy, on wednesday but is there a
Speaker 1: chance We'll.
Speaker 3: See, johnny yeah he's on.
Speaker 2: The bench there's. A CHANCE and i think if publicly
Speaker 2: is the right moment to get him in there and
Speaker 2: to add some quality and make a difference in. The
Speaker 2: game he'll, do that. YOU know i, know obviously, you
Speaker 2: know down a man in that Situation in dallas probably
Speaker 2: wasn't the right moment to debut him. Into that so
Speaker 2: we'll see if the moment presents Itself. On WEDNESDAY but,
Speaker 2: i think, You know johnny brings obviously a lot of
Speaker 2: experience to, the group experience not just in the games
Speaker 2: but also, in training which you know will take time
Speaker 2: obviously to see within the group in, the games but
Speaker 2: helps us a ton. As well and, you know he
Speaker 2: obviously also makes a lot of good decisions and has
Speaker 2: a lot of quality on the ball in those, right
Speaker 2: moments and so if we see time to use, those
Speaker 2: qualities we will, all.
Speaker 1: Right, last thing give me a little gland Into who.
Speaker 1: Portland is they they're having a. Good year they're third
Speaker 1: In the west or six three and three twenty two,
Speaker 1: goals scored so they've got something cooking. Up there as
Speaker 1: your opponent On. On wednesday tell me, About them curt
Speaker 1: forre set.
Speaker 3: You loose.
Speaker 2: They are a, very attacking, you know. Oriented team they
Speaker 2: obviously last season and returned all. These guys but they
Speaker 2: they scored a lot, of goals you. KNOW that i
Speaker 2: think it was three guys and or three or four
Speaker 2: guys in, double digits which was or was above a,
Speaker 2: certain number and that was the record or first time
Speaker 2: that happened in. The LEAGUE so i think there's still
Speaker 2: that team they want. To be they want to, play
Speaker 2: quick they want to, get forward they want they've always
Speaker 2: been a bit of a, transition team, you know and
Speaker 2: willing to get out on. The break so that's what
Speaker 2: we might see a little. BIT of i think they
Speaker 2: are going to. Push forward they do have a lot
Speaker 2: of quality in. The attack. You know you didn't you
Speaker 2: mention how many goals, they scored but not how many goals.
Speaker 2: THEY conceded i think they've also been a little bit
Speaker 2: susceptible in the back. Of times that's hopefully something we
Speaker 2: can take. Advantage of they've given up nineteen mis score.
Speaker 2: Twenty two they've given, Up nineteen so it's something that
Speaker 2: we'll try and take advantage of them on that side
Speaker 2: of the wall.
Speaker 1: As Well, all, right buddy good, stuff today appreciate, the
Speaker 1: time and best of Luck, on wednesday.
Speaker 3: Moving, forward okay, all right, Sounds good, All Right, coach.
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