Christian Lattanzio talks to the media on keeping positivity and energy after the loss Saturday, the vitality of togetherness, player availability, playing hard and with intensity and more, ahead of Charlotte FC’s Round of 16 match in the U.S. Open Cup at USL side Birmingham Legion this Wednesday night.
Um will if you want to start us off Afternoon Christian how are you good Afternoon I will I'm fine thank you you I'm good Um in terms of Enzo capetti I know you mentioned his Injury at the end of the match on Saturday wanted an update on how he was Feeling and whether or not you feel He'll be available Wednesday It feels it feels better it should be Okay it should be okay for Wednesday I Saw him today and he feel the if he was Quite a bit normally on the day when we Come back The play is the start of the game they Do a a little bit different session from The one that didn't start so they will Have a harder session So the one that they started like again So they normally do something lighter we Decided for him to stay inside and to Complete his Regen But apparently went quite well so he Said to me that he feels uh a lot better Than he thought And about Camille do you feel like he'll Feature Wednesday Camille also feels a lot better than Than initially expected I don't know if He's going to be part of the game on Wednesday because uh his recovery is a Lot quicker than we thought so I think He's important
To make sure that We proceed step by step especially with The the second episode that he had so When you have an injury and then you Have a reoccurrence Uh you want to be extra cautious but the Fact that we are still talking already Talking of him to be back on Wednesday That tells you the incredible progress That he has made What are you noticing about the effect Of this Stack of matches all close together the Effect that that's having on the team Yeah when you play games So close to each other many things Happen first of all that the Coordination between the coaching staff The performance department has to be Really there and I think we have that as A club Is something that I am very happy that We have here we are close together Uh as uh almost as a family here And that helps of obviously the Professional side as well so Our Togetherness in that is vital to help The guys To Do the best possible uh Uh training and Recovery strategy at the Same time because when you play so many Games all at once
And especially in this country given the Size of this country and traveling so Vastly In comparison to what you would do well For example in Europe Um You know you have to take into into Consideration a number of things Uh and so What is also teaching to some of the Guys to be able to do that some already Did but is the best minority And some are coming to terms to play and These mental tiredness as well as Physical tiredness that's why I was so Frustrated with the result last game Because I don't think that We deserved to lose that game and you Know and you get like some negative in The system that I don't want I don't That's why I said that we need to Position Just behind our back away from us Because we need to move on and we need To have positivity and energy also to Recover from effort every 48 you know 72 hours And lastly for me Um how are Birmingham different in the Team you saw in the preseason and can Anything be gained uh by you guys having Seen them in the preseason the way that You did I think it's always good to have
Especially given that we don't play in The same league so you tend not to Follow those teams closely And I think to have played against them And also how the game went because he Could have looked Easier than it really was because I Think we took the lead early on in the Game and and then after As soon as you put the foot off the gas They were there because there are a Number of players that played In in MLS and in big clubs I had one of Them and Mikey Lopez that he was one of My players in New York so I know that he Didn't feature for example just to stay With your question in the In the game that we had here at the Bank Of America So I think that the it's a it's a game That we need to really respect and by Respect and I mean to play really hard From the first minute to put all all our Uh intensity into into the game on Wednesday because we know is uh we Already had the experience that as soon As you put the foot of the gas against The USL teams you know they are they are Organized they have very good players And so you you have to even last season One of the USL team went to the final of This competition so there is uh we need To respect them and to prepare A really strong uh and we started
Already today Thank you safe ride good luck thank you Thank you all right uh Sam Lupo was on first I'll give it to him oh Sorry John You can't see Woody thank you very much Sam I appreciate it though good Afternoon Christian how are you good Afternoon John hope you're well Thank you Um Just to sort of piggyback on what will Was saying about playing Birmingham in Pre-season um They've lost six of their last eight now During their USL season and there are a Lot of young players on the team we Talked about this a little when the Matchup was announced but now that the Game's two days away Do you feel like you have to say Something to the players I know they've Already been playing Orlando the Defending Champions and they've beaten Them but we know a USL team in their Stadium these some of these younger guys Have not had a lot of experience in Atmospheres like that do you feel like You need to say something to the younger Players or some of the veterans on the Team talk to them or do you feel like That they can just handle the moment Without anything needing to be said The job of uh of a coach and the
Coaching staff is to always to talk to The players and to make them Uh understand how well we are and what Things we need to improve how to improve Things following our methodology and our You know the the line that we decided to Take here at Charlotte FC so the the Dialogue is constant at some point uh of Course and I said one of the things I Said to the boys today is that we have To share the responsibility because you Know we organize and we do the uh all The work that needs to be done during The week and prepare the games and then It's up to them to go out and really you Know make sure that what we work in the Week they put it in place with the With enthusiasm with intensity with Energy with technique all the football Skills it's up to them to put them into Place obviously we spoke about them we Told them how important is they get they Know I mean they don't need me to Reinforce even though we said it not Just me also the the the the rest of the Coaching staff the importance of playing These games away from home where the Atmosphere is going to be obviously in Favor normally from the home team and we Need to be able to play our game with Personality and [Music] To impose the the style that we want to Play and we we can do that only by being
Fully focused and giving 100 and to be Fully prepared mentally and physically [Music] Um tactically from Birmingham what do You see what do you think will be some Of the keys to the match We know that they have they have been Playing Uh different system there are players That we know quite well we personally as I said before I know Mikey Lopez then Christian play with Martinez in Charlotte Independence And then uh you know the web play the Playful used to and play the play for uh Krogmail was so They have an Abu Dale obviously a New England and even for the national team The American national team so we know That they have players that they can be They can be dangers that they can change In a 442 and they can play in different System but again it depends if their Possession if they are not in possession So we look at that this morning and uh Obviously I'm not gonna discuss here the Tactical plan that we are working on but We take very seriously this game Finally for me uh Brandt scored on in The game against Nashville and I've Noticed that he's able to play a lot of Different positions he's able to play in A lot of different places in the Midfield depending on what formation to
Use how valuable do you think that can Be that you have a guy who's able to Play all over the Midfield Is very important it's very important I Think he's he has got this ability Is a I don't know how if it's a word Translating English utility is this Ability to To be adaptable adaptability to Different situations I think he's a guy That takes his job very seriously he Trains hard every day he prepares Himself hard and Uh but I think no Football nowadays is a is an evolution I Think gone are the days where you only Play in one position and that's it there Are some obviously that if you're a Goalkeeper probably that still applies But you know you have to be able to Adapt to different systems and to Different positions at times and I think If you have a good technique if you have Good understanding of the game and the Good Fitness level in most case uh you Can adapt playing in uh in different Position within the within the structure Of the team Great thank you Christian good luck on Wednesday thank you John Thanks John uh all right Sam hurry up So coach Um first off
Over the past weekend with Um you know Crown Legacy now being 0-2 Uh or one in you know uh overtime loss In a loss against Huntsville plus the Nashville result Um do we do we see Nashville as possibly Being as big a rival for Charlotte as Atlanta I don't know why to be face I might see Everybody as a rival so I want to do Well in every game and uh You know I I feel this is more I think this the Supporters feel that Uh Uh probably more is another team that is Not that far from us and we want to Uh we have a rivalry with them as well Which is uh which is normally football You play against the team that is not uh Too far away at least in the U.S way of Being in Europe would be very far but Let's say that it's close to us and Um no but is uh I don't know but I feel a lot of rivalry With uh with every team we will play Against we Um Is not that we prepare especially Atlanta was different because they Played this uh and then we got beat in a Home in that way that we didn't really Digest And so not that I have digested this
Defeat if I have to be honest with you It's still uh but uh The lesson is there and we need to move On as I said and me first so today we Came with a totally new energy I think The boy is also did that very well in The training and so yeah we are ready For the next uh challenges Um so we Know what the mid Oh the midweek matches we haven't heard A lot about Charlotte's commitment to Play in the the tournament in Kerry next Weekend Um can you talk to a little bit about How the team's preparing for that and Who you might be there hey Sam Um that's probably better served for Someone else at the club but I can help You Um speak to someone on that side if you Want We have got to the first team issue we Have many games you know we are focused On that don't let me talk about other Issues I I'm focusing on Birmingham Focusing on a Galaxy and focused on on The next game if I have to focus also on Different uh uh is impossible we have Already our plateful I can tell you that That's what I I'm happy to take that one Offline Woody Um and then finally Um with the focus on on Birmingham and
La Um Are are we planning to are we going to See a strong first team roster uh for The birming Birmingham match or how are You balancing that with the fact that You have to go out and play the Galaxy Right afterwards um we want to play the Best team that we can given the Circumstances all the time because for Me every game is important and I'm not Um I'm not the guy that likes to make Too many calculation you know that maybe If in three weeks we're gonna play that I think that the next game we have in Front of us is the most important we Need to focus on that And then uh you know we have to try to Do our best To bounce back as soon as possible and Then when we play in LA we will see the Best 11 that we have at disposal for me Once we have a roster Squad of players The opportunities in life come like that As well So we try to play always the best taking Into consideration the what the What the performance Department tell us In terms of focusing on the uh Fitness Levels but uh is uh is the most Important thing is the team and that uh To go for the next game as the most Important one Thank you coach safe travels and good
Luck thank you Sam All right thanks so much Steve and then In with Carol Hey Christian good afternoon uh going Back to uh what you were saying about Brant Um been watching him develop watched him Play with uh well going back to Charlotte even in his high school days But then It was always a very good player but now He's he seems to have a confidence that Uh I haven't seen before and I've just If you could speak to how he's grown as A player since your time you know Working with him from the uh beginning Of the last season yeah as you know I've Always had a lot of time for brand Because I love his attitude I think he Has a great attitude and when I say Agree with that to you the It means not necessarily that they have To do what I'm asking them to do to us Or to be a yes man but to have guys that They are prepared to give hundred Percent and to have a strong commitment Towards work work hard with intensity So in that sense I thought that the He had this great attitude to give 100 In every training session I know this Early on even when I was uh Doing the assistant job and that's why I Spent a lot of time as a player that I Told you
It's all the press in the past that I Already remember in the draft when he Joined Chicago And I remember that he had qualities That I liked And I think like you say confidence the Confidence comes from playing games come From you know playing Consistently well and knowing that he Has the back of the coach itself that we Trust him that we believe in him And this is what we're trying to to give Everybody but obviously we need back That kind of attitude of being mentally Ready for the challenge sometimes you Know the the quality Or that position the experience might Not be there this is not important to me But it's important that we are Completely focused everybody completely Focused to push forward to train uh with Intensity to play with intensity Mentally engage 100 all the time then After it is not good enough it's okay we Move on and we go for the next challenge Is when I don't see that that I get a Little bit uh You know frustrated uh and I think one Of the best qualities that brand has is This as well as obviously you need to Have football qualities too but if they Are here in the roster with me or with That with us is because obviously we Believe in them
Do you feel that he's improving as a Technical player as well or is it the Confidence given him the inspiration to Try things that he might not have Otherwise tried No no I think it technically as well if You look at the first goal that Brandon Scored against Chicago the past that he Played and breaks the line to find Carol Is a pass that maybe He wouldn't have tried the Before or uh you know we play with such An accuracy and precision that and a Clear understanding of what he was Needed in that moment and this is what We are encouraging me Christian Especially Christian books we always Talk to him the importance of playing Forward whenever possible But I also remember the game that plays Against Atlanta is uh defensive Midfielder he was uh it was one of the Best players on the pitch for me and Tactically one of the best games I've Seen him play against a tough customer Like Diego almada is not just against no One so I think Brandt is uh is growing His role the goal is called last game it Shows also what he can do when he's in The Box Uh unfortunately he didn't help us to Get points in the table but we we should Have deserved that but as I said you Know we move on and uh I'm happy that
Bronte is feeling this confidence going Forward And another player progression uh Question regarding uh Enzo capetti and How like when he first came in the first Part of the Season his work rate was Undeniable but as we had spoken at that Point it might have been a little bit Unfocused and not within you know the Team concept he was he was creating a Lot of pressure but without Uh real consequence do you feel that That's improved because he seems Uh to be a little more wary of where He's positioned on the field and the and The press forward and and timing and you Know trying to be more intelligent with That yeah I think again so he's a play That has got that kind of attitude uh That I was telling you about he gives He lives and breathes football is always Thinking about it and he wants to Train even when he doesn't feel hundred Percent I took him off because he failed You know in his Armstrong something that Could be could have been warring he's Not another guy he's another guy that is Not used to playing this kind of service So for him is an adaptation as well to To play in on the turf Um but two things that he needs to Improve I speak with him all the time is This game back to the goal Uh to be more tidy in those moments
Because they are needed they are very Important for us or the way we want to Play in for every striker in general to Be Tidy and to be really good back to the Goal this is vital and the second thing Is to be more discipline on the pitch in That sense And for me is very important that he can Be You know to refine or I don't know if It's the right word but to be even more Less Argentine Yeah no the Argentinian I don't want to Lose it because that what gives him the Edge to be so energetic so be fighter But at the same time to channel it to Become more composed this is maybe the World that was you I was looking for and The more composed uh back to the goal And also when he has the ball in his Feet in his two and also the way he Presses is because everybody has a role In our team to work and sometimes to do More it doesn't mean to do better to do More it means to do maybe you know not To let other players to do their job so I think it's important that he can Channel to keep his energy to keep his Argentinian way of playing but to Channel it into more composure Okay gracias So you speak to me in Spanish and now You think I'm Argentinian as well I was
It was a Freudian slip on my part but Yes All right we'll end with Carol today Hey Christian I'll just stick to English I think um to follow up on capetti can You explain to me when you say back to The basket do you mean I'm back to the Basket sorry back to the goal Um Baseball you lost me already oh my gosh Um do you mean that you want his vision You know his decisions a little better You want him to receive the ball a Little bit more securely like what do You mean yeah when you play back to the Goal obviously this is a position in Which you have to protect And uh and sometimes we need an outlet You know that can receive the ball and Because we really want as I said in the Past we want our Strikers to play front To the goal but sometimes in order to Arrive to that point you need to go Through stages and one of those stages Is to you know to receive back to the Goal you see these even in Champions League when you see the big teams not All the time you will see Greeley show Island or benzemao vin issues that they Face the the play you have to earn the Ride by doing the the other part of the Job at the back to the goal sparked well Clean need And sometimes you know for the strikers
Is they want to flick things they want To try but instead it's vital that they Become foreign for Caro for Patrick that We have here our number nine fabini is To do this part of the job well because If they want to enjoy the other part You know if you look at the first goal We scored against New York is when we Set the ball back to Ash find Mackenzie McKenzie fine and so is this moment to Play back to the goal I think that Carol Does well that allows us to to find Finally within three passes and so in Front of the goal if we flick that ball It gets lost and then we have to defend Again So for me this is uh that's what I mean Is to be neat and tidy back to the goal Which is a part of skill that uh every Struggage in my opinion must uh You know Mastermind I'm sorry for the destruction oh my Goodness I know I've been there so it's a tough Time of day uh for us but uh Uh In fairness to Enzo I mean kind of Looking back to swedersky last year I Mean they are human beings doesn't it Take time for them to adjust to a new League a new team you know what I'm Saying I feel like some ways people can Be hard on Enzo of course because he's Not been perfect you know every game but It seems to me like you guys are giving
Him some leeway you know what I'm saying And you're liking his effort Yeah if we are looking for a player to Play is a perfect game I think that you You're not going to find it because Again if you show me even the best teams In the world and the best players I you Will always see that there are moments In the game in which they miss Uh the ball they make wrong decision but The most important thing is how you React and how you are ready to for the Next ball and the next one and the next One again this is what makes a Difference and I think that enso has got That you know Relentless but that Doesn't mean that it doesn't have to Refine his game for me it's important That he become more composed Uh in those moments like Steve said when He goes to press when he's uh he plays Back to the goal when he's you know when He combines And I understand that like Camille had a Lot of hard press on him because of the Numbers but uh I believe in these guys This guy is for me they are very very Important to us and uh I know people Like to put them under pressure people Like to you know to give them hard time Because But they just have to focus on what we Do on a daily basis and then trust the Process and Trust the way we work
Because we take into consideration all The things that people think and more uh And we can see them on a daily basis One last one when you said after the Game Saturday that you're frustrated I Couldn't read if you thought the call What did you see it as a penalty Um were you upset to be fair for me is a Very soft penalty for me it's a very Soft penalty and that brings me You know also to the game against Chicago I thought that the the VR I mean I said that uh Tori on that game against Chicago didn't have the best games I Think that she didn't have the best Her best game because I think that she Can be a very good ref and on that day I Thought that but I also have to say that She has not been helped by the VR Because they were too easy calls and I Don't know what they were looking And I think she should have been helped With those calls This one as well to me looks a very soft Penalty last minute of the game you can See that uh Especially if you have the the TV that Nathan is doing everything that he can To control his effort and not to take The player he actually put the brakes When you play on Turf this is a little Bit more difficult To stop you slide in that if you play on Grass
So I think that if you look how much the Brakes he puts the brakes on well before That the contact comes it's just like so I think it was a very soft penalty but Listen it's not my I don't like to talk too much about the Referee I don't want to create an alibi I don't want to create an excuse a cold Show we take what happens but it's true That you know I think that the level has To improve especially when the call on The VAR and it seems I might be wrong But it seems that a lot of the times you Know We have to we have to speak to the League we will receive uh apologies but You know is the apology after the event Was it the game against Chicago would Have been a lot easier from a lot before So to get an apology after Chicago or After this one I don't know but I I saw That they put on on telly that there Were two clear penalties for us you know It was the the MLS Uh website and in particular with the Guy that is referring to the referees He called for two clear penalties for us Against Chicago and you know if you get To kill two penalties more in the game The game you know goes in a different Direction early on So you know and Again it seems to me that uh Am I again I might be wrong and I don't
Want to talk and comment too much about That but many calls comes always Against Charlotte FC and the he carries On from last season last season I Remember we got few apologies yeah Thank you Christian sorry for Distraction around here All right thank you guys thank you Carol See you
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