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Last Friday night, the Washington Spirit beat Bay FC, 2-0 to earn the club’s first home win of the season. After the match, Head Coach Jonatan Giráldez, forward Trinity Rodman, and defenders Esme Morgan and Casey Krueger spoke with the media.
Jonatan Giráldez, Head Coach
On the team formation:
In the first half we played very well, we created a great amount of chances to score. The second half was completely different. They were defending higher and deep, makes the midfield flat, especially when you are attacking … We played 4-4-2 in the last 20-35 minutes and we played much better. The perception in the beginning of the second half was we are going to defend the front line. [Kiki] Pickett received it many times completely free and we were not defending well. So we decided to change the shape to improve especially the defense and then attacking took off.
On the motivation to win at home after last week’s loss:
I think that the connection that we have with the people is very important, it’s very big. It’s very important to maintain that connection and get points. And you need to win games, you need to create chances, you need to spread your energy to score. We are creating chances, they are performing very well. So for us we were not thinking just about the result at the end of the day, it’s just what we want to give the supporters who are coming here, because they are giving us big, big support last season and also this season. It’s Friday today and they played so late so I have to say thank you because they were so important today and this week.
On Ashley Hatch‘s goals:
I think that she’s improving a lot in that position in the last winter. We know that she’s a good player when she comes to play in pocket, she’s a good player when she has to change to do passes to assist other players, but she needs to be there she needs to create chances, she needs to score goals. We have to push to get that, and she’s improving her position into the box. If you see the chances she created to play in Kansas [City], she’s making the right decision. The goal that we scored against Houston, she’s the player who touched the ball and then deflects it off to Makenna [Morris] who is ready there to put the ball past the post. She’s improving on that, and she needs to be creating chances. Very happy for her because she’s open minded, always trying to learn, trying to improve.
On starting strong:
Today the beginning of the game, the first half, we were speaking a lot about what happened against Orlando and Houston and Kansas. The first 10-15 minutes we didn’t play well enough and today was very important to connect with the people, connect with the players, the staff to be in the other half pitch and create as many chances as possible. Identify better situations to create chances, especially with home field advantage. And I and very happy for that, but we need to improve our performance in the second half because we are not good enough. So next step we need to emphasize trying to do a good job for the 90 minutes.
On letting more players get experience while there are injuries:
Giráldez: For sure, players need to play to gain that courage. It’s impossible for players who don’t play to get that experience and courage. I use this example many times, Chloe [Ricketts] played in the final against Orlando and I think in terms of confidence, especially for Chloe because she’s a young player, because I see her training everyday and I know her potential. And players coming from the bench in the second half they need to help us. And today we needed to maintain the result to I tried to stretch as much as possible, the defensive line, to keep the ball a little more. It’s normal when you don’t have the experience you need those games, but when you win, it’s going to be easier for you to grow as a person, as a player in this environment because you know how important it is we need to be consistent. I always say that it doesn’t matter who is playing, we need to have the same impact.
On the three-back:
When you play with three in the way that they were defending today, [Rebeca] Bernal had time to dribble and play forward. Other times, the striker is ready to defend those players so I do five backs. Today the advantage, especially I think Tara [McKeown] and Rebeca going forward, especially when we have the situation to switch and find Makenna and Gabby [Carle] there. So I am happy because of that. In the game against Houston, we weren’t doing a good job and we improved a lot. Last week and we lost we know that, but our center backs held up really really well. And today we can be happy, because we could identify the advantage.
On Rodman:
She gives us a big stretch when she is there. The defensive line is scared a little bit because she’s very fast. So anytime you have the chance to receive in pocket, she can give us a big stretch to create more spaces. I know that she always wants to perform better, today I thought it was just to play 50 minutes, to have quality minutes. Last week she played 30-35, right now she’s building on her ability to be available for more minutes, to play more games, and she’s improving, I think that’s the most important thing that she’s building her fitness and she’s improving everything else.
On Kysha Sylla:
She’s an athlete, she’s very fast, she’s strong … In Lyon she was playing most of the time as a center back, she can play both positions, but I see her as a center back. I need players for that position with a good build up and also intense in a deficit situation, especially when we have to defend … She’s coming from an injury that she had in Lyon, step by step trying to improve her performance because I think she’s going to help us a lot.
Forward Trinity Rodman
On the physicality of the match:
I felt good. I think we played really well. Anytime we play Bay it’s a tough game. Thankfully we have been able to win them. I am happy with what the team did. I think we lost control at the end. We made it more transitional than it needed to be at times. I think there is a lot of things to work on, I am happy with the way I have integrated back in. Hopefully as time keeps going, I will be back up to 90 and have the whole game to settle in and make my mark.
On coming back from injury:
I think we managed it really well; I am happy with the progression that we have had … You can’t just get right back into it. That’s been the mental battle … I am just trying to play the role the best I can, still being effective in a different way as I build back up to it.
On Hatch’s goal and celebration:
Hatch is always in the right place at the right time. Her positioning is phenomenal … She is always finding ways to get it in the back of the net. We did talk about that celebration, that was Esme who came up with that. I pushed: “It doesn’t matter who scores we are going to do it.” I am just so thankful it was Hatch. I ran over there really quick and set it up. I am really happy she did it, I love seeing that personality from everyone. Even though she was uncomfortable she thought it was cute, I am happy with it.
Defenders Casey Krueger and Esme Morgan
On keeping the width in the first half:
Krueger: The first half we did quite well. We knew they were going to try and clog up the middle so the space would be out in the channels. Us wing backs were focused on our finishing, playing with it, trying to force the outside back. Trying to jump but also beating their winger. That was a big focus for us and making sure we always keep the center backs an option. I think it went better this week.
On Hatch’s celebration:
Morgan: Hatchy took a little bit of persuading. Yesterday we were in warmups and Trin asked: “If your life was on the line, could [you] do a professional catwalk and fit in?” I said absolutely, if my life was on the line my body would produce. Today I told Trin about my idea for a celebration: whoever scores should do a catwalk. We were spreading the word around the dressing room. We very specifically told Hatchy—I think we manifested that she was going to score. When we are convincing her, she was unsure. I grabbed her hand and shook it, so she was in, she didn’t have much choice in the matter, but I am glad she was up for it when the time came along.
On the second half and stoppage time:
Morgan: The second half felt quite long. We didn’t want to end up defending as much as we did. We would have liked to have a lot more possession in the second half and created a lot more chances, being a little more patient. After our first half they changed their press quite a lot, they moved people really high. We had to play more direct, with more frequent turnovers. The last half an hour was just backs to the wall defending. Those games can be fun sometimes, but we’d like to attack a little bit more than we did. It’s just about grinding it out, standing firm, and getting a result.
Krueger: When I saw the extra time of 11 minutes I almost cried. It felt like an eternity … Proud of the group for holding strong and still getting a shutout.
On Rebeca Bernal:
Morgan: I love it. Rebe is such a strong presence, especially with the long balls. Really comfortable with the ball as well. I feel really secure with everyone around me. I have really enjoyed playing with her so far.
Krueger: She has come in and just fit in seamlessly. Especially with this league and team. She is so good in the air and has such long range with her long balls. It has added another dimension to us. It’s been such a joy to have her.
On the defense:
Morgan: I didn’t realize that was our first clean sheet. I feel like there are some games where we feel like we had one, but we hadn’t. I think it is always fun to look at the score at the end of the game and see a zero. I take a lot of pride in that as a defender—I know everyone in the backline does and Aubrey [Kingsbury] too. A lot of it comes from communication and organizing those in front of use the best we can … The communication has been really good since the start of the season, I feel very secure.
On looking ahead:
Kruger: Yes, absolutely. We are going to continue to get better and better. If we are already improving this much missing players right now, I think it is exciting to think about where we are going to end up at the end of the season.
