CHARLOTTE – Charlotte FC defender, Guzmán Corujo, held the honor of captaining the team through large portions of the Carolina Challenge Cup in the last preseason games leading up to the start of the regular season.
“It was a good preseason, we knew going in it was going to be a difficult job, we barely had a month to get to know each other and prepare tactically. But I think we had a solid preseason, we improved with every game, improved in training, and we’re going to fight for that goal of playoffs.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, it’s a game model that for many of us is new and is more complex than others. But especially in that last match against Inter Miami, we were able to play out of the pressure really well.
“But there is still much room for improvement... but like I said we are getting better and better. We’ll keep training and preparing to be the best that we can possibly be this weekend, and for the rest of the season.”
With the 2022 MLS season imminent, outside noise from media only amplifies. And as the new kid on the block, Charlotte FC is a popular topic of discussion.
“Opinions are just opinions, you can say whatever you want, but at the end of the day it’s just talk. We got together as a group in the beginning and decided that one of our priorities was going to be building a bond between us all, from the players to the coaching staff. That we would stick together and not let anything influence what we do on the pitch.”
The Club’s first-ever MLS game is closing in fast with only three days left for the historic occasion. And as an expansion team, the pressure that Charlotte FC players are feeling is different to that of anything else. A pressure that Corujo says the team is embracing.
“It’s a beautiful pressure, it’s a pressure that all of us knew we would have when we decided to come to this club. We all know we have to play well, we all know this game and the first one at home will be forever a part of history.
“We all knew about this challenge, but it’s a worthy challenge, and like I said it’s a beautiful pressure."
In the preparation for this weekend, Corujo stresses that the most important thing the team needs to focus on is on themselves.
“What we do on the pitch is the most important thing. Apart from what we do though, we have to see how the opponent plays against, how they defend, and adjust to it. We are preparing in every aspect, we have the whole week to get ready and that is what we have been doing daily. I think we will show up and compete, as we try to start the season the best way possible which is getting the win."
When asked about what specifically motivates this team, Corujo didn’t hesitate for a second.
“Our biggest motivation is wearing the Club’s colors and going out to win.”
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