CHARLOTTE – It was another match where Charlotte FC were arguably the better side but didn’t take advantage of their opportunities and were punished for it in their 0 – 2 loss to Toronto FC.
“It’s frustrating because I actually enjoyed watching us,” said interim head coach, Christian Lattanzio. “I think the team creates, is in control of most situations but unfortunately, we concede as soon as we make a mistake because the opposition has a lot of quality in that situation.
“I enjoyed how they made it difficult for Toronto. In the second half, [Lorenzo] Insigne had to play away from his normal position high up the position because he couldn’t find a lot of space where he normally is dangerous.
“When you concede a goal in that way, you’re one nil down and you want to keep playing and try to score goals. Obviously, sometimes you get stretched but I thought all and all considering the quality that they have, we didn’t concede that much, and we could have certainly scored a few goals tonight.”
Lattanzio’s priority is for the team to continue to build on their mentality and losses like these can be valuable lessons on being mentally engaged on and off the pitch.
“The most important thing I told the boys that we have to develop is mentality. To be really strong mentally. Which means to be one hundred percent in every training session, and it’s easy to say but difficult to do in the way I see it. When they are on the pitch they have to be really engaged mentally...
“We need to improve but improve with the right priorities in mind and the number one priority for me is mentality. To play strong in every moment of the game. When we have the ball, when we don’t have the ball in transitions because time and time again, we concede the same goal.
“It’s just to have this urgency that every play is important. Sometimes when you create chances you think, ok, the next one is coming. You have to make every one count like as if it’s your last one. We have to have this mentality and we have to work towards this mentality.”
On a positive note, 20-year-old Adilson Malanda made his debut for club and thoroughly impressed the gaffer.
“I think Adil played exceptionally well, not just well, exceptionally well. His debut in MLS has been great. He played with a lot of personality, very good on the ball, and also defending I thought he was good... I feel sorry [about the final result] because I thought his debut was exceptional.”
