Captain, Ashley Westwood speaks to the media about Charlotte FC’s confidence coming off of a few dominating performances before the International Break. Westwood says Leagues Cup was a turning point in their season that created a bond between the team and built on the positive, hard working team culture. In a good position for their playoffs push, that positive culture will be vital for their last stretch of the season starting with D.C. United this Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
All right Ashley what's what everyone uh Jorge I will fulfill your request to go First go ahead and kick us off Ashley how are you today looking good I Like the hair thank you man it's a fresh Fresh cook the weekend I love it I'll start it off with um DCR A direct rival in the month for a Playoff spot for you guys Um how important does this game become Given that you guys did three points Away from the midnight with two games in Hand Uh drawbacks at this stage of the Season Like I said we're the main thing for us Is doing what we did the last three Games because I thought we were Absolutely excellent so the way we Played we've dominated we dominated two Of the best teams in you know in the League so like I said it's We can take great Confidence from that But we're not getting away from it it's Uh it's a huge game it's gonna be it's Gonna probably end up probably could end Up deciding the playoffs So it's huge for us but we just gotta Focus on what we do well and said the Last three games take great Confidence From that and we're going in there a Good form and like I said with The fans are going to play their huge Part as well For sure and what what are those
Positives that you take from those last Three games given that you guys were Undefeated you'd be lafc in that in that Mini run as well I think it was the way we played the way We we dominated La they didn't know Football it felt like that on the pitch They didn't they didn't have any answers To us The same with Orlando and the same with To go to Nashville which is a tough Place to go and we completely dominated And we felt like we played in their own Half of the whole game Unfortunately we didn't hold on which is The only negative we could take from That but the performance wise and the Way we played with were going into the Weekend and with great confidence and Like I said it's it's Portland's in a Great position to to have a real push For the playoffs we're hopefully time in Our our form just right For sure the last one for me there was a Season with Burnley that you guys Finished seventh and made it to the Europa League what do you take away from That season that maybe you can apply Here at Charlotte to help qualify a Playoffs or what kind of mentality can You give this squad from that run It was the it was the whole work rate And we're we're getting that now we're Getting we got that in the leagues cup
But you can sense it on the pitch the Our willingness to run for 90 plus Minutes we're uh you can feel it on even The 75th minute we're we're still Pressing we're still running around and We're still we still look fresh that's The that's been the big difference we're We're running teams off the field now Which is It's not easy to do and like I said that Even the top boys do it now football's Football's evolved so much you've got to Be fit and you've got to be able to play With the ball and we're starting to show That now and that's been there that's Been the most pleasing thing for me Everyone's working hard and willing to Do the hard yards and no one's arguing No one's no one's no one's moaning Everyone's just getting on with it and We're creating a real a real positive Culture and it's shown in the last few Games Awesome thank you good luck this weekend Thank you Mike thanks Jorge we'll pause It Ashley what's going on pal how are you I'm good thank you man how are you I'm well Um I want to ask you about your former Burnley mate uh Scotty um he's kind of Gotten a knack here lately of uh being Part of the late heroics uh is that Something that is a new thing for you to
Witness or is this kind of always been a Part of his uh repertoire he's always He's always popped up with goals even at Burnley he was if he wasn't playing he You know he'd come on and he'd create Chances and get on the end of things He's got a he's got a real eye for Arriving at the right time and that's That's something you can't teach the way Just is like the top strike is the ball Always seems to arrive him and think People think they're lucky but it's There's a special talent to that and I Think Scott is Scott has definitely got That and unfortunately we couldn't hold On which is the only disappointment from From the national game This is you know be seeing you guys at a Training earlier today this is probably The largest group you guys have had Together with first team dudes healthy At any point in the season how do you as A captain ensure that you know some of The top decisions that are made by Krishna tanzio might leave some guys out So how do you ensure that everybody Stays motivated and is making sure that They're on their p's and q's even if They're not part of say the 20-man Roster on a weekend well that's the Culture we're creating here I said it Before with no one no one moans no one No one falls out of stalks everyone gets On with it and like I said we've got a
We've got a real good squad now who uh Looks at the when you look at the guys Who miss out the weekend they're they're Still there supporting they're still Turn up Monday and they're still working Hard for the team and that's what it's All about not everyone can play and it's The way the way them boys act when They're not involved that's the that's The key to a successful team And lastly for me Um you mentioned the last three games uh There has been a difference like you Mentioned in the way that the team has Played and I think a lot of it comes From the build up without you know Revealing the secret sauce so that DC Doesn't see it and hear it but uh what What has been different you know Conceptually with what you guys have Done uh to try and make sure that you Are creating more chances We've just I think everything's just Clicked it's been I think I I goes back To the leagues the League's cup we've we Were on the road a lot we took of We said it started then we were we were Running for each other everyone was Fighting for each other and there's a There's a good feeling about the group And like I said it's it comes from the Lads who aren't playing pushing the ones Who are in the team and if you're in the Team you you don't want to come out the
Teams it's we're creating a we've Created a real culture and it's like I Said it's starting to show it's finally Paying off and we're hitting format There just at the right time hopefully Cheers mate good luck Saturday thank you All right Carol Alton Okay hey Ashley how are you I'm good how Are you I'm good Um I just want to ask about brecht and Um what he brings I know it's just been A little bit of time but it seems like He really can help you all get the ball Off the field Yeah he's a he's a talented boy he's a Very talented boy and he's he's got a Lot of experience he brings something Different and like I said he's I think he's obviously struggled with uh With the then get a hamstring issue but He's hopefully be back soon like I said He's he brings he brings that little bit Of quality and like I said it's I think he's really enjoying it as well He's fitted into the group straight away He's he speaks French which which helps So he can He can speak to ADI a lot and he speaks They've got they've got a real Connection so it's It's been brilliant for us and obviously Yerry as well has come in and fitted in Straight away so it's we're it's an easy Group to fit into I found that when I
When I joined in in January it was there Are there are real good bunch of lads And it's It's a pleasure to come to work and be Like Oh and one last one just um I know you Know you don't want to focus on some of The breakdowns but has there been some Communication maybe that needs to be Cleaned up I mean is there something Simple or is it more just that energy in The last you know that that Never say Die kind of thing at the end of a game Yeah I think it's just uh with like I Said with the leagues I don't keep going Back to the Leeds couple that was the That was the turning point in our season We were We were away from home boys traveling Together we come back with we'd like We'd go again and it's we create a real Bond and it's one we one we uh one we're Going to protect and I said it's Go back to Nashville it's it's just Disappointing to to we've got we've got To draw there if you'd have took a you'd Have took a point at the start of the Game but the way we the way we played And we dominate them it was it ended up Being a disappointing result so it's That that's what That's how far we've come in a short Space of time Thank you
Uh thanks Carol Caleb Hey Ashley just one question for you uh What sort of message you have to the Fans about coming out and showing up for This important match this weekend It's uh it's a huge match and I know We've we've opened up the top Bowl so It's Hopefully they come out with in their Numbers they've even the the Wednesday Night game was incredible it was we had The storm rolling in and it was raining But we still managed to get nearly 30 000 so it was It was unbelievable support you don't Get that in England so to get that is Just shows what a what a fan base we've Got and I said it's It's a huge game it's could be well We're not looking at that but it's gonna It's gonna be it's gonna be put us in a Great chance if we win on Saturday to to Real push for playoffs so they'll the Way they come out and support they've They've done it even at the start of the Year and things weren't going our way They've stuck with us and hopefully we Can pay them back now Rick thanks so much thank you Handle back up so we can finish off we Have a couple extras and Carol if you Have anything after as well we can come To you afterwards I was just going to Give you a hard time about your
Commercial will so I'll defer to hooray Oh yeah don't even tell Wesley about That now it's gonna go oh you've got You've got to say it now you can't do That Just ask minty just ask minty okay all Right all right go ahead I get to start it off and finish it off I love it Um actually the nflpa's new executive Director Lloyd howold mentioned that all NFL stadiums need to go to natural grass I just wanted your thoughts on playing On a turf field versus natural grass and If it truly makes a difference Uh it's It's um you're asking a lot that's come From a broken ankle so for me it's been I've been I've been fine with it it's Been it's been all right while since Ours is very good to be fair ours is Ours is a very good one But it it obviously it is it's gotten Its bad press but it's it's been fine With me I can only speak from my Experience the I was I'm not gonna lie I Was a bit worried coming from Coming from grass or or in the Premier League but I I grew up playing on these Pictures so it's It's okay for me and with it like I said With a with a bad ankle I was worried But it's it's I've stood up to it and Like I said it's I'm very lucky with
Ours is ours is very good But I won't be making I won't be making Any judgment on on pitches obviously I Know there was a bad incident with Aaron Rodgers uh recently I think the way It looked a nasty collision and I don't Think it would have come out of that Very healthy on grassy either way so It's it's one of them like I said it's For us it's about the football and I'm Not going to look into Thank you All right we'll finish there thanks Everyone for your time and we'll see you Guys on Friday for Christmas Thank you
Things to Do in Charlotte, North Carolina
Events, Life, Sports, Weather, News
Charlotte is a bustling city that boasts a photo-worthy skyline and offers an endless menu of things to do. It’s the kind of place where a thriving arts scene is matched by heated sports battles and chart-topping entertainers. It’s also a hub for big business, with major companies like Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Johnson & Johnson calling Charlotte home.
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