CHARLOTTE – The pressure is being felt by Charlotte FC after back-to-back losses. With how tight things are in the Eastern Conference, every point matters, and every match is an opportunity to improve your playoff chances.
“I still believe that we have got time and we have to focus on one game at a time, prepare the game, play that the strongest with the strongest 11 that we can for that team. And then we'll review the week and we go again, I can count on a number of players that are all good and that they can all bring something to the table.
“I understand the urgency, I think we still have got time, but because of that, we can't wait. We have to start from the next game and each game in that sense becomes very, very important.”
That next game for Charlotte FC is the Columbus Crew who haven’t lost in nine straight matches, the longest active streak in MLS right now. They’re a side that has been defensively sound all season but have become much more dangerous offensively with the addition of new striker Cucho Hernandez.
“We are talking about a team of a certain caliber on top of that they have a striker that is a DP that scored goals in Premier League until a few weeks ago. So now we have to try to impose our game, defend transitions, and break down one of the most solid teams in MLS.
“Defending in transition against some of the best talents in MLS with [Lucas] Zelarayán and [Derrick] Etienne is a good runner, [Luis] Díaz is a good runner. So obviously preparing the game with the boys is a tough challenge. But we will, we will face it, we will embrace it.
“We embrace the challenge and that's why it's important to keep in mind the challenge and the progress that we are making on a daily basis as a football club. To give credit to our boys for going out and giving a game to everybody with a lot of courage. Because for me, our boys show it a lot of times, we play with the ball and play so high. They show courage. And that should be at least acknowledged.”
