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After Saturday’s thrilling victory over defending champion Gotham FC in the semifinals, Washington Spirit Head Coach Jonatan Giráldez, goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, and defender Esme Morgan spoke with the media.
On what had to change to take control of the game:
Giráldez: We adjusted much better, especially in the right side. We wanted to jump in the first line with Trin (Trinity Rodman) and Paige (Metayer), and I didn’t know why Paige was not jumping on that moment. Sometimes, you have a player behind of you, you can decide, but in the beginning of the game, you have to make sure that you have to do exactly what we are demanding for the game. In the moment that adjusted those jumps, we were defending much better. We regained more ball possession in the other half pitch, and we start to create chances. In the moment that one, two players are not doing their job, when you can feel that you are not regaining the ball possession in the other half pitch, and after that they had to modify. They were trying to find Esther, especially this long pass from (Ann-Katrin) Berger, but also we did a good job there. In the second half, they tried to do other things, and we were adjusting very, very well. Out of possession, in general, I think we did an almost perfect game because we knew that we are playing against the best. We were playing the best roster in the league. They have brilliant players in build-up out of possession, too, and we had to do almost a perfect game to beat them today.
On the reaction after the game:
Giráldez: Yeah, the same question, yeah, as last week? You asked me again about it, and again, I have to say thank you, because after the last game, we got an important sell-out. That’s brilliant, all the impact that supporters are having here, and in the way that we played today and the energy that they gave us during the whole game, it was amazing again because what I told you guys the last week, when you are winning, that’s very easy to enjoy and have a good day. But in the bad moments, they were pushing us and giving us the energy that we needed for the last minute. So, I’m very proud for the players, for sure, because they were consistent in the performance until the last minute. But also because we have amazing supporters. We had not that in the beginning of the season, but right now, what we are creating here in DC is crazy. When you can spread your emotions and share your feelings with all of them. You can win games and titles, but when you can share all of that with the people, in my experience, that is an amazing experience. And I’m very because it’s a big victory today for the players, for the staff, but also us, at the same time, because we have amazing support.
On what it means to be back in the final:
Giráldez: I don’t know. As a person, as a professional, I love the feeling when we win. We came here, if I came here personally because we wanted to do important things. It’s just not to improve my English. I know that I am trying to pushing, trying to give my best every day, but I wanted to create important things around soccer in another country with another club. Maybe nobody thought that this season, the first season with the changes that we have, with rookies, with injuries, no way to get it. But I think that all what we are doing behind the scenes with the staff, with the players, Michele [Kang]’s vision, everything that we are doing is a great, great job. I think if we are here it’s because we deserve it. Nobody gave us anything. We deserved to win last week. We deserve it today because we create more chances than Gotham. But as you told me, I don’t want to stay here, I want to keep moving forward. We got an important thing, it’s qualified for a final. We have to be there. You have to be there. But we have to rest, enjoy, rest, and then prepare the next week because I give my best to get that title because I know how important it is.
On the emotions of the penalty shootout:
Giráldez: Before, when we had the meeting in the end, before starting the penalties, I always try to do the same thing. My protocol, to relax and adjust my emotions to give the best speech to the players and make sure that everyone is connected. The only thing was analyze what we were doing in the past, the previous weeks in terms of preparation for penalties. We were prepared. We deserved the victory in the game, but no worries, guys, because we are prepared. We trained that in the last few weeks. So, we have to do what we know that we have to do. It’s just not about shootout and mentalities. All the protocols that we were creating around the penalties, I think we did a brilliant job. When you are in an important situation, you have to manage very, very well your emotions. You cannot be like that, speaking with the players. You need to relax them and be right in the message that you want to give them. It was a good test today to prove myself also, to understand exactly the type of emotion that I had to give to the players because it’s not an easy situation. And after scoring and after winning penalty, we have to enjoy it.
On the importance of the sellout crowd:
Giráldez: As I told you before, they did an amazing job. Again, they were the player number 12. I think everyone, I think, enjoyed a lot in the game. I think the feeling here in America, when you come back, you feel much better. I don’t know why, but they’re used to feel that when you win games and when you win in the way that we did it. For sure, I prefer to win in other ways, be more relaxed. But in the way that we did it, I think we spread our energy to the supporters. And today, the fan base and all what they gave us during the game was really, I have to say thank you, all of them.
On Hal Hershfelt coming up in a big moment:
Giráldez: It was a very, very specific week. We were practicing a lot this week. The preparations in 2-v-1. She had not very good feelings in the beginning of the week, but she has a big personality, especially when she commits a mistake. She’s always moving forward and thinking in the next. She’s never staying with the emotions in the past, she’s always thinking in the future. It’s amazing because when you are young, this type of mentality is not so easy. Usually, you can get that when you are getting older, and she’s amazing the way that she prepares herself because she has a big intensity for her. She needs to adjust. Dropping a little bit the emotions to play, especially in possession is something that we are working a lot to improve her. But it’s also other area that she’s trying to improve. It’s not the finishing, it’s having a situation when the other keeper plays long balls. Today, she could score. It’s not a coincidence. It’s everything what she’s doing in the training session, in the way she believes in the training, how she develops her skills in the training and everything, what she’s doing. She deserve it because today she was dancing with an important player inside. It’s not easy the game, I don’t know that expression is good in English. Dancing we say when you have to face one-by-one situation against good players, and attacking and defending. She did a amazing job today.
On facing Gotham FC today:
Giráldez: Yes, we know that they always defend with six players in the first line, in the middle, but they have a specific behavior, especially the weak winger. Seems like they are just protecting, but it’s very difficult to progress when you want to switch, because you have not passes to switch the ball. So, you have to make sure in terms of position inside and outside how you are placed to make sure that you have a clear situation, to have a good build up and beat them. We had success, other times we lost the ball, but it’s normal because the opponent, they have very clear idea of the possession when they are pressing high, it’s very difficult. We knew it today, especially inside and outside, how we have to attack in terms of positions to occupy, how we have to perform that. In general, I’m happy because we create a lot of chances attacking in different areas, in different ways, not just attacking the sidelines, also something inside, in transition, positional attack, set pieces. We did, I think, an amazing job defending and attacking because for me it’s one of the best teams defending, especially when they are defending high.
Giráldez: She did a good game. She provoked an important yellow card in the beginning of the game with (Jess) Carter, and all the situation that she had in the 1-v-1. She was not running too much today in the space, but when you have not the rhythm, the competitive rhythm, you need to adjust a little better the position and the decision. She commits some mistakes in terms of decision, especially when we are in our half pitch. But in general, she did an amazing job. She has the capacity to beat opponents in 1-v-1. She’s not scoring yet. I think she’s saving the goals, I hope, for the final. But she helped us a lot to defend and also in attacking because she has a big capacity to beat opponents in 1-v-1 situation.
On Kingsbury:
Morgan: Legend. Hero. Yeah, absolute icon. I think you just thrive in those penalty situations, don’t you? She saved a few of mine in training, which I got quite frustrated about. But as soon as we went to penalties, I felt this calm wash over me because I know how much all of the people taking them have practiced over the last few weeks and months even and just repeating and repeating the strikes. I know how brilliant Aubrey is at saving and stuff, but we’re in safe hands here.
On what Kingsbury was seeing throughout the match:
Kingsbury: Especially towards the end, we had a lot of momentum, being a player up. It was more just like we didn’t come this far to lose and doing whatever it takes. Offensively, Hal had an incredible goal. We had some opportunities to win it even at the end there. But yeah, I was motivated to do my part to help the team win and get us to Kansas City.
On Kingsbury’s preparation:
Kingsbury: With our goalkeeper coach, all of us goalkeepers have worked on penalties consistently throughout the year, especially with VAR in the league. It’s such an important part of the game. We conceded plenty of penalties in the early days. Started by conceding a penalty 20 seconds into the season, right? So it’s just one of those moments of the game that you have to prepare for. We work on them pretty consistently throughout the season, not just in the postseason. But just got a good read. And I think it’s more just the confidence and having the fans behind me. I was really trying to get them into it because I knew that would give us a great advantage for their penalty takers coming up. And trying to make one in front of that wall of fans. I would be scared. So yeah, (Ashley) Hatch started us off with a great one, and I think we just continued with that momentum.
On coming up big in big moments:
Morgan: I think we never feel that we’re out of it. I think even if we were multiple goals down, we’d always have a belief that we could come back. And I think now that we’ve got so many late winners under our belt, I think even other teams probably feel a little bit on edge towards the end of games because they know that we’re never out of it and we’ll always keep fighting to come back. And I think, towards the end, we built up so much momentum and the crowd was just amazing in getting behind us, and I think they probably felt quite jittery. And I really just believed as we were getting towards the end of the game that it wasn’t done. I think sometimes you can feel in games the way it’s going to go, and I just had this feeling inside that we were going to get one. And then once we did, I thought we might get another one to win it before taking us to extra time. Yeah. But yeah, just amazing.
On staying focused during the penalty shootout:
Kingsbury: Yeah. It’s just trying to stay present. That’s really the focus throughout the entire game. The second that you start thinking you’ve won or lost, then you’re not able to give your best. So it’s just taking it one at a time, not let your emotions get too high or too low, but just staying really calm and confident.
On how important training is to Kingsbury’s success:
Kingsbury: Very. Yeah. Going into that, I wasn’t nervous at all. It’s just like another day at training. I’ve made those saves many times in our trainings, so I think that helps then prepare me emotionally for those big moments. When the season is on the line, it’s just reverting back to everything that I’ve continually done all season long.
On Hershfelt’s goal:
Morgan: Yeah. It went over my head and then it was almost slow motion. I just saw her come from nowhere and then I actually watched it go into the top corner. Oh, it was amazing.
Kingsbury: We were throwing everything at them, so I feel like we were all up there. But like Esme was saying, we all had this feeling we were going to score. It was just a matter of when, not if. So, super proud of her. She’s been incredible all season long. So to come through in that big moment was just great.
On the psychology of a penalty kick:
Kingsbury: I wouldn’t say I do too much of the dark arts like (Argentina’s) Emi Martínez. Ironically, I did read a book from our sports psychologist about penalties, but it was more… it’s called “Pressure.” I’m blanking on the author. But it was more from the kicker’s perspective. But for me, I just try to move around a little bit. Again, like I’d mentioned, I was really getting the crowd involved because I think the crowd was doing more of the dark arts than I was, just with how loud they were and having to shoot in front of our supporters’ section. If I make the saves, I don’t have to worry too much about distracting. So, I think, for me, it’s more of just making sure I’m set, I’m ready as they approach the ball. So, I don’t do too much in those types of mind games.
Morgan: She just uses her aura.
Kingsbury: Yeah, I guess that’s good enough. I appear apparently 10 feet tall maybe.
On the physicality of the match:
Morgan: I think, coming into the game, we very much had the mindset of wanting to be aggressive and battle physically, and so I carried that in getting into my duels, particularly with Esther. But I found a lot of the fouls a little bit frustrating because I think it’s a physical game, and a lot of the time, those duels are just part of it, and it’s not necessarily a foul, it’s just being physical, using your body well. So, I think the momentum of the game was kind of slowed by the number of fouls that were being called. Different refs see it differently. But I think this league certainly, comparing it to the English League, everyone’s so physical, so fit, so fast, so much less time on the ball, and so I really enjoy the challenge of it, and I feel like it’s an element of my game that is developing a lot from being over here.
On if Kingsbury was going to take the first penalty:
Kingsbury: I did want to be in the top five, but yeah. I was number six, but we didn’t get there, so that’s all right.
On if this year’s team shares similarities with the 2021 team:
Kingsbury: I have similar feelings, honestly, as ’21. That felt like destiny. And I would say the same thing. Obviously, we don’t have the media circus and all the chaotic energy around us that we did back in ’21, but on the flip side, it’s all the positive stuff. We’re well-supported, from the owner down to our support staff, everyone in this organization So being motivated from a really positive place has created a sustainable team. Back then, it clearly wasn’t sustainable because after ’21, we kind of tanked. You’ve seen us continue to grow all season. This stadium has become a fortress. Our players individually have developed so much. As a team, we’ve developed so much. And again, there’s just this belief, similarly as ’21’s belief that we’re never out of it, that whatever you throw at us, we’re going to find a way to win. I think although we’ve been behind both games, we never panicked, we knew it would come, even in the 92nd minute, and that yeah, we’re excited. We just got one more to go.
On how Morgan handled this week’s emotional win:
Morgan: Well, it almost happened again this week because Hal scored, so I cheered to the fans behind the goal. And then I tried to get the ball, but I was beaten to it. And then I did this big, grand loop, and I was starting to run back. And then I was like, “Oh, no, I’m going to join in this time.” But there were tears again. I don’t know what’s come over me recently. I honestly never cried on the pitch before, but the last two games, I’ve just been so emotional. Again, when (Aubrey) saved that last penalty and we won, I just started sobbing. The staff were just laughing at me. I was like, “I can’t help it.” It must be, I don’t know, all hormonal it seems.
On Esther’s goal:
Kingsbury: I was mad I didn’t save it. We knew that they’re a great crossing team. Yazmeen Ryan had time to pick out Esther, and we know that she likes to stay at the penalty spot. So a little bit of frustration that we didn’t have her marked. But again, kind of knew that we would find a way to come back and score and just knew we had to really step it up from there and just pick up the pace a little bit. I thought maybe we were a little bit slower coming out in the second half, but everyone really stepped it up, and we created a bunch of chances after that.
On what makes this team a Championship team:
Kingsbury: I have a lot of confidence in this team, and it’s not just out of nothing or it’s not for any… I have reasons behind that, and it’s because of how we train and compete every day. If you’ve been with us since day one, since pre-season in the pouring rain in Chula Vista. We went all the way out to California to just be rained on the whole time. But from day one, this entire organization, players, staff, has been bought in. And it’s been hard. We don’t get many days off. We’re exhausted. We had a lot of players away at the Olympics, came back, dealt with a lot of injuries; Andi (Sullivan), Croix (Bethune), Ouleye (Sarr), the list goes on. But it’s just made us better. It’s just made us stronger together, more committed, more determined. But then also on the field, we’re competing every day. Our trainings, more than half the players leave pissed because we’re fouling each other, we compete, and we keep track of wins and losses and everything. So we have a really hungry, really humble, young team that really wants to just fight for each other. Again, I think it’s out of love for one another and love for Michele and the vision of this club and just a lot of gratitude to be a part of it.
On the team maturing from last season to this season:
Kingsbury. This year has been entirely different. We’ve been the ones winning the late-minute or the last-minute games, scoring the late equalizers rather than conceding. And again, I think it goes back to training. We’re always competing. Jona will lie about the score so it’s even or it’s a tie game at the very end. So it’s a bloodbath, honestly. But we’ve consistently trained that mentality, that “never say die” mentality, that fight to the final whistle, the running in for rebounds. We don’t take a second off, and I think that has really come to show itself over the course of the season.
On Giráldez’s chat before the penalty kick shootout:
Morgan: I think extra time ahead of that, it was just giving everyone a moment to get whatever fuel they needed on board; gels, water, just take a moment to just breathe. In fact, I recall him saying that quite a few times. He was like, “Everyone just breathe. Just breathe.” So he was just trying to settle us down, ready to go again. And then ahead of penalties, he alluded to the fact that we practiced over and over in recent weeks, and that we were just so ready for it. And Aubs promised as we did our little huddle, she said, “I’m going to save some, and everyone’s going to score.” In fact, you saved all of them. It was just complete confidence and knowing that we were ready to do whatever we needed to in that moment to make sure we got through. I don’t think there was any doubt in any of our minds that we were going to make the championship.
