Led by goals from rookies Heather Stainbrook and Makenna Morris, the Washington Spirit defeated the Chicago Red Stars for its club-record tenth home victory of the season. After the match, Head Coach Jonatan Giráldez, Stainbrook, and defender Casey Krueger spoke with the media.
On the Spirit dominating with the ball:
Giráldez: For today, I agree with you. I think we improved a lot on that, but especially today, the transitions with Ludmila, (Mallory) Swanson, (Jameese) Joseph. They have good, good player. After recovering the ball, they can in your box in two, three passes, a few passes. Today, I think we did a good job. After losing, the ball, the reaction of the mid players, its important that they can play inside and that the defensive line is ready to run before to avoid being beaten. I think during the game, the beginning of the second half, we struggled a little bit, but then we modified our shape, especially in build up, to make sure that we can transition because they were creating chances and getting close to our goal. Hal (Hershfelt) and Heather did a good job today because they have different roles during the game, in attacking and defending. Heather today was playing as a number 10 but the last 30 minutes playing in base with Hal. So the small adjustments we had to make during the game were good, and in the end, you have to analyze the strong point from the opponent, and today in terms of transition, we did a good job. It’s not just about the defensive line. As a team we did a good, good job.
On what the team did to allow to keep Chicago in their side of the field:
Giráldez: We are defending different heights, especially inside. I think that is giving us chances to avoid being beaten. When Hatchy (Ashley Hatch) goes to press, and they are playing base, then we have our pocket defending by Hal or defenders are ready also to jump. We are employing different things when we are defending, wingers trying to force them to make mistakes that they can play inside and be aggressive in that or be ready for the transition. Today, I think we recovered a lot of balls, especially in the first half, with Courtney (Brown) and Heather. They were recovering a lot of balls, it was a big point for me. We didn’t create big chances, especially after we recovered the ball, because we have the spaces to run, we have the spaces to make better the last decisions, the last movement, the last shot. We have to make them more comfortable to make sure that their finishing is good. The general idea out of possession, I am happy because the last game we performed well, but we have to improve the small details, especially the defensive line, the distance, side back versus wingers. The process has been good because the players are improving a lot. That’s the most important thing. I don’t care the result. The result was good because we got the victory, but as a team today, they only have two shots on target, so I think that’s good news.
On the midfield with Andi Sullivan being out:
Giráldez: Last week, they were jumping with number 10, 9, 7 or 11. They were an unpredictable team in terms of jumps. We did very well last week. Today was completely different. I know that they are not being very aggressive in high press, but we identified them very well. When we have to go forward just using our fullbacks. We created chances, especially in the first half, just making easy progressions. On the side, we identified with Esme (Morgan) and Tara (McKeown) the type of pass to go forward. We moved them very well, and then the last 30 to 35 minutes in the game, we had to modify our shape, especially after sent off player with Rose (Kouassi) and play with 10. You have to adjust your shape, but I think we were getting success finding the free player to go forward with Gabby (Carle), with Kate (Wiesner), with Casey. When you are preparing the game and you have chances to go forward, you have to analyze as soon as possible to identify the next advantage, and today they were making some changes to try to make a better press, but today we did a good job. We had two/three mistakes in build up, but that’s part of soccer, but in general, we did a good job today.
On Makenna Morris’ versatility as a player:
Giráldez: Today, we thought before the game that we could create chances, especially with side backs and wingers– 2-v-1 situations with the other fullbacks. I think we found very well in the left with Rose a lot of 1-v-1 situations, and on the right, we had a lot of situations with Makenna and Gabby. Then Makenna was playing as a 10, and I am very happy because she’s the type of player that she can play different positions. I think the best performance she showed was when she played on the side, but when she has space in the middle, she’s good because she likes to get in the box. I like when my strikers get in the box. I am very happy because she could score. She could score because she was there. She was believing that she could have a big chance to score, not playing as a number 7 but playing as a number 10. Out of possession, when we are defending with her and Hatchy in the first line, she’s doing a good job. I am liking in terms of defense moments because sometimes she’s jump to the center backs, other times she’s defending the side back player. I know she’s a rookie, but I don’t like to say she’s a rookie because when you see that, you have to demand her a lot because I think she can give us a lot of things. I know she’s young, she’s a rookie, but she has to preform as she did today and keep going because the season is not ended.
On having the flexibility of McKeown:
Giráldez: I have to say that Tara is one of the players who improved the most from the beginning of the preseason. I remember watching clips in the beginning and how she improved and what is the level that she’s showing right now is high. She can keep doing good things for the team. This is her second season playing as a center back. She was playing as a forward. She’s committing mistakes, but she improving a lot. She’s taking responsibility in possession when she’s playing with Annaïg (Butel) or Esme. The characters of the other players are capable to have a good build up, but she has taken responsibility, too. I am happy because when you can see the process, the growth for Tara, in this case, she’s playing a lot of important minutes and the way she’s preforming, I like. Out of possession, she is very intense. She always works for the second ball, ready to run. She’s close to the cover when wingers are running. She’s improved a lot step-by-step. I would like her to increase the leadership on the pitch because she’s the type of player that she can lead a little more, but in terms of soccer, in possession, out of possession, everything that she is doing — she is on the way to be one of the best center backs in the league, but she needs to keep going. So far she is performing well, but as I said before, the most important part of the season is coming, so we need her now.
On Stainbrook’s goal and what played out during the sequence:
Stainbrook: I just knew that the corner we had went across, and I knew that I needed to be back post, and the ball was going to come back across. I was lucky that it landed at my feet. It was perfect.
On changing shape as a result of injuries and how that has impacted everyone’s roles:
Stainbrook: It’s been good. That’s the position I played in college, so it feels really natural. I’m grateful to be higher up the field. I’m getting to attack a little bit more, but also helping build out when I need to. Pretty comfortable.
On the key to winning tonight:
Krueger: I think anytime you play Chicago, it’s going to be a battle — just having the mentality right. We were first in 50-50s, first in second balls, and that mentality created a lot of momentum for us. Obviously, we would have wanted more in the first half, but I think we created a lot and had a lot of good energy and made a few adjustments in the second half and were able to close it out.
On the most challenging part of the game:
Stainbrook: I would say there were moments of back-and-forth transition. Just staying organized and staying numbers in the back, just being ready for their counterattack.
Krueger: I think that’s a really good point. Chicago is incredibly dangerous on counter attacks, and they show it every single game. I think that was a big focus, especially defensively, making sure we get our numbers right, maybe being a little bit more conservative in the buildup. I think we are pretty happy with how it went.
On Kouassi’s red card:
Krueger: I think it’s an unfortunate situation. I don’t know that I necessarily have advice. It’s a tough spot to be in. We’re obviously really sad to lose her next game, but we are looking forward to having her back for the playoffs.
On playing North Carolina Courage and Ashley Sanchez next:
Krueger: They love to possess the ball, and I think just being comfortable not having the ball at times because we saw that last game. They are very good at possession and just picking their moments. I think that’s big. I think using the momentum from this game going into the next game as well.
On Stainbrook’s first NWSL goal:
Stainbrook: Something I’ll never forget to be honest; I had chills. It was just a really good feeling. I am looking forward to many more, hopefully.
On Krueger sharing a moment with her son Caleb postgame:
Krueger: It’s definitely special. I am so thankful for every moment he gets to be around. That one was pretty cool. He is in a drumming phase right now; it was the perfect opportunity for him to practice. Trin (Trinity Rodman) brought him over. It was a lot of fun. It’s really cool to have him be a part of this and just be here for the journey.
On the importance of the shutout today and building confidence ahead of next game:
Krueger: I think its huge. It definitely creates confidence defensively. We really wanted to block down certain details. Like we mentioned, the counter press was huge. We are happy to get the clean sheet, going into these next games, the smallest mistakes you get punished for. I think creating that momentum going forward was really big for us.
On creating space and opportunities:
Krueger: That was part of our game plan – knowing how their wingers defended and to potentially take advantage of that to create 2-v-1s or 1-v-1s. We found our wingers isolated quite a bit against their fullbacks. I think we were just trying to continue to create that, even the second half creating 2-v-1s more so. It was fun out in the flanks today.
On the years Krueger spent in Chicago:
Krueger: There’s only a few faces left, to be honest. I’ll always have love for that club. It will always be special to me; it’s my hometown. Playing there in Chicago, the first time we played them, was a little bit of an emotional thing for me. At the end of the day, it’s another game. We were friends after the game, but not during.
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