Post-Practice Press-Conference October 10, 2024

Laurent Courtois

Q: It’s not the first long break you’ve had to deal with this year, but when it’s the last game of the season awaiting you on the other side, how do you want to attack that break? How do you want to manage the week?

LC: The same way we’ve done it in the past, well it’s just that there’s a different vibe because the boys are excited about the opportunity there, but we’ve handled it the same way.

Q: Would you say it’s a good thing or a bad thing to have this break just before the crucial game of the season?

LC: I’d tell you afterwards, it’s frustrating when you think you’ve got good momentum. It’s frustrating to have to cut off too. There are guys who are tired from the trip with the turf, there’s lots and lots of meetings, etc. It’s a bit of both, we’ll see afterwards.

Q : We’re in training right now and the match against NYCFC is in nine days, are we already in preparation mode now where we are studying NYCFC? Or are we just in fitness mode, and in the last few days before the game, we’re going to start really getting ready for it?

LC : It’s really a case of readjusting and reinforcing what we’re trying to do and giving as many pointers as possible to those who’ve played the least, so that if they find themselves in action, they’ll have some reference points too, but it’s always about us first.

Q: We spoke to Gabriel Gervais, the last time he spoke to us was after the loss to Cincinnati, when he pointed the finger a bit at the staff’s work. How was that message perceived by you or your assistants at the time? Could that be a reason for the five-match unbeaten turnaround?

LC: Yeah, it’s always a good idea to question the way we act so we can be more relevant. Of course, like everyone else, we’ve got things to do better, and I thought it served as a bit of a wake-up call that we’re working well, but we can work better, and how we can always at least maintain what’s going well and improve the things we can do differently. Even thought it had nothing to do with the results because I don’t like to associate that with the fact that we’ve won a few games recently, we’ve been working very well lately, so I’m happy about that.

Q : Beyond the technical challenges and tactical schemes, to what extent was the fact that you had no choice but to keep producing results or you’d be eliminated? To what extent has this level of energy and stakes made the difference in the last month?

LC : I don’t know. There was a real desire that we tried to communicate to the guys, to play our real game and show our real face to ourselves already and to the people who count on us. That was the mission. It wasn’t just about getting a playoff spot where we need so many points. Yes, we talked about it, but the priority was to make sure that every training session served a purpose, and that we came out with one idea in mind. I didn’t want them to just show up every day, that was the idea.

Q: Canada Soccer is in town this week, Jesse Marsch will be here shortly, did you get a chance to chat with him? I know he gave a clinic to local coaches and locals this week here that you took part in.

LC: We texted a little bit. Yesterday, I attended a meeting of the assistants with the Academy. I haven’t had a chance to see Jesse in action, but I’m going to see him for the first time since his return tomorrow. It was just a quick chat.

Q: How much fun can it be for the community here, to see that the Canadian players have walked around have seen the youngsters, what can it do for the youngsters to see their heroes?

LC: It’s extraordinary! Soccer has its own thing, just like any other sport, but when you manage to cross the people given like this notion of “if it happened to him, who’s from here I can do it too”, it’s crucial! I hope we’ll be able to repeat this event more often, and get more people involved in seeing it.

Q: A difficult situation with Nathan Saliba suspended, you have options, you can take someone up top and drop him down to number six. You can change the tactical scheme, you can bring Victor Wanyama on board, do you already have an idea of where you want to go or not yet?

LC: There are too many options, and we have to choose. We’re working on that.

Q: On Josef Martinez, to what extent has he been a determining factor for you and some of the parties responsible for the results of the last few months?

LC: You’ve all seen that when he’s at that level and the teammates also manage to raise their game to support him, he does what he’s been doing lately and everyone’s happy.

Q: Nathan Saliba’s action followed by the yellow card, was it inexperience or naivety?

LC: Yeah, he’s going to learn, and at some point, the player has to not only take responsibility, but also make his own adjustments. We know that he’s got a lot of qualities, but he knows that he needs to improve in certain areas, particularly managing his emotions.

Q: Several players in recent months have mentioned tactical adjustments without even being asked. This is something that has come up in the words of several players to explain the turnaround, do you agree?

LC: These are things you have to do, I don’t blame them, I don’t blame anyone, it’s just that sometimes you have to say things because we’ve done the same thing. They’ll have to tell me about the tactical changes, because I’ve been saying the same thing for at least a year now.

Q: We chose Sunusi Ibrahim over Mattias Cocarro in the last game. What did Sunusi do so well that, when we wanted to rest Josef or Matias Cocarro, it was better to start with him?

LC: Sunusi has qualities, even if he’s very young and far from his maximum potential, he has qualities of strength and explosiveness that haven’t yet been used. When one day he manages to unlock those qualities, it’ll be really interesting. We thought he was an interesting option and he created two or three chances, but in terms of play and content, we expected a lot more from him, between the lines and in terms of taking up space, there was a lot more to be done.

Q : Matias?

LC: He’s been in a bit of difficulty lately, I found, so I decided to give that option to Sunusi. It’s a year of transition, he has to learn this image, he has to learn to read, to understand what I really expect from him in his position, and he’s shown some very nice things and also that he needs time and we have to be patient.

Q: Do you feel he’s happy here too? From a personal point of view, he’s a long way from home.

LC: I feel he’s much happier than before.

Dawid Bugaj

Q: How do you use your time in this long break before the final game of the season?

DB: I think either mentally or on the pitch, we’re trying to prepare as good as possible. We know it’s the most important game of the season, so I think we’re ready. We’re waiting for this game, so I’m looking forward to it.

Q: Is it a good thing to have an international break before that big game, or would you have preferred to go right along with it in a week only?

DB: No, I think it’s good for us. We had a tough week with three games in one week, so now we have these two weeks off from the games. We’re training hard and we’re going to prepare good for this game, so I think it’s perfect for us. We’re going to prepare to the last details, so I think it’s perfect for us.

Q: Did you notice anything different from the big losses that you guys had in August and the big sequence that you had in the month of September and start of October?

DB: The main difference I think is that we changed mentally, and I think that’s the big point. After these big losses we trained harder, I would say. We tried to improve in training but also mentally, so I think that’s the big difference. We had a good sequence the last two games, so we’re happy about that.

Q: How was Coach Courtois like during this period? How did you feel? Did he help you personally and for the group to get better for the last stretch of the season?

DB: I think he’s a great coach. He helped me and the team. He’s been great with us and he has a lot of experience, so I think that helped us a lot with the team, so really happy about that. He’s always there for us, so that’s helped a lot.

Q: New York is not an easy team to receive as a challenge at the last game of the season, what do you feel you guys need to focus on to get at least a draw and maybe a win, maybe have a home advantage for the wild card?

DB: Of course, they’re a great team, but I think we have to focus on ourselves. We have the advantage because we play at home and we can play in front of our fans, so I think that’s the big point. I’m really happy about that. We’re going to just focus on ourselves and prepare for the game and be ready for it.

Q: Is it challenging for you to prepare for your opponent? Every team is new and all the players are new because you don’t know the league as well, has it been challenging for you as an athlete?

DB: Of course, when you’re new to a league and a team, it’s always going to be a bit different, but I think like a player, I can adapt really fast to the league and the tactics as well. We analyze good opponents, so I think that’s not a big problem.

Tom Pearce

Q: How is it to prepare for the biggest game of the season when you have an international break between the last two games?

TP: It’s exciting, with the last game of the season going for the playoffs and we’re all looking forward to it. It gives us a little bit of time to work on things maybe which we wanted to work on, which we haven’t been able to because there’s been so many games.

Q: Is there also a downside to that that you can’t get right onto it? Or do you see it as a positive thing?

TP: A positive, we’ve had a quite a lot of games in the past 2 or 3 weeks, so to have a little bit of downtime and a few days off and then working towards next Saturday is positive.

Q: Are you able to compare the pressure the team felt in the last month to facing promotion or relegation back home in the UK? Can you compare both scenarios?

TP: Yeah, I suppose you can. In England you’ve got promotion and relegation and I’ve been at both ends of the table. I wouldn’t say it’s so much pressure but it’s kind of exciting as well and you just take it step by step and hopefully it’s a positive.

Q: You were not in the practice field this morning, why?

TP: I’ve just got a little bit of discomfort in my heel, and I just took a couple of days off just to get it right, but I’ll be ready to go for next weekend.

Q: If there was a game this Saturday, would you have been good to go?

TP: Yeah.

Q: How important was Laurent Courtois in this last stretch of games and how would you say his coaching impacted your game since you came here?

TP: He’s improved my game in every aspect. Before coming here, he spoke to me about what he wanted from me. And I think since I’ve been here, I’ve done well and hopefully I’ve helped the team where they’ve needed it. He’s helping me every day defensively and going forward, so it’s been it’s been good.

Q: You think you’re a better player since you came here?

TP: Definitely.

Q: You’ve had an impact as a starter, and you had the impact as a sub as well since you got here. When you start on the bench, what’s your routine to make sure that when you’re called upon, you’re ready to go?

TP: It’s kind of just the same mindset as whether I’m starting or if I’m on the bench. If I’m starting or if I’m on the bench, I’ll be ready to come on and make a difference. The last few games I’ve got a goal and assist, so it’s been positive.

Q: Can you talk about that cross you gave Martinez at Atlanta? That was quite impressive.

TP: Yeah, I mean I like to get it on my feet and cross the ball. As I said when I first came here, I like to cross and pick people out. Luckily enough against Atlanta, the ball came out to me, I took a touch, and I saw him and he’s got great movement, so when I saw him go front post, I thought, I’ll put it there and he should be there.