Read what Frank Klopas, Troy Perkins and Patrice Bernier had to say after Tuesday's training session at the Stade Saputo synthetic field.
Frank Klopas
On the team’s struggles…
We need to keep working. It’s difficult because when we look at training, the commitment and work rate is good, but then in the game, something goes against us and we have a letdown. In a game, we can’t let one mistake let us down. In Kansas City, we had two or three good scoring chances. If we score, then the game is different. We’ve also had some bad luck go against us. On the first goal, Calum Mallace goes up for a header and it goes upper 90. We play Seattle, the ball bounces off the bar and hits Troy Perkins in the arm and goes in. We have to understand that the game is 90 minute and we can’t bring our heads down after difficult moments.
What needs work…
With the ball, we have to make better decisions to get better rhythm. We kept forcing the ball. Through possession, we give ourselves the ability to rest. It’s a work in progress and we’ve had some good moments during this tough stretch. Now we are playing at home, at Stade Saputo and we get to play on grass on front of our great fans.
Troy Perkins
On last game’s performance…
Let’s take a look at the first half. We created a number of opportunities and if we score, we walk into half time maybe 1-1 or 2-1 for us. But that first goal, you can see the shoulders drop and a sense of here we go again. We can’t do that. We have to say, you know what, that was unlucky. We are going to get one back and then we are even.
On Frank’s message to the team at training this morning…
He’s encouraging us to fight. Training today was intense and it was tight, that encourages you to fight. The leaders and the rookies need to show fight and that’s what’s lacking right now. It’s an issue of belief right now and we have to find that mentality that teams will have to work really, really hard to get points from us.
Patrice Bernier
What’s the problem right now…
We have to be more efficient in front of goal and better defensively, it’s simple. We have been playing well in moments, but not complete games. Finding a win now won’t be pretty, but it will be based on winning the ball, being effective in our zone and efficient in all that we do. It might not be pretty, but it will improve the confidence.
How to approach the game this weekend…
Every game is a new game. It might be tough mentally, but we have to believe in what we are doing and that if we work hard we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. We can’t overanalyze things and just believe in ourselves to find a way to win. Sometimes that means playing simpler. It’s not one player that will make the difference, so we have to leave it all on the field. We’ve had really good moments this year, so we are capable of playing well, we just need to do it for 90 minutes now.
On playing at Stade Saputo for the first time…
Sometimes coming home is the best medicine when you aren’t playing well. You have the comfort of the familiar here, with our 12th player behind us, close to us. There is something special here for us with the fans, even though they may not be happy right now, it’s normal. So there might not be better time to open Stade Saputo with a win Saturday.
