Christian Lattanzio talks to media on the readiness of the team to take on FC Cincinnati, the top team in the Eastern Conference this weekend back home at Bank of America Stadium
And if you have a question and I will Work my way around to you we'll still Have a couple people filing in here as We go but Willie pick it off Afternoon Christian how are you good Afternoon will I'm fine thank you you I'm well Um I know that uh Polly was a little Ambitious to get a read on Enzo after The game Wednesday but uh between him And Harrison how did they both come out Of uh their testing this week Art is on fire and trained well uh Unfortunately and so couldn't train [Music] And we need to I think he's gonna be assessed by the Doc or he was assessed late morning I Haven't I didn't have Any News update as as it is but it looks Something that uh Can You know not so not so Easy for us Wednesday was the first time since I Think late April you had all three of Them on the pitch together how difficult Is it knowing that you know that's been Something unfortunately that's been a Little fleeting for you guys not having Them all together Yeah uh this is uh For us it's important to have a
You know the players that The attacking players that we invested And that uh They are important to us so Ideally I would like to have the full Squad available and to make the tough Decisions because nothing is tough for Uh for a football coach than to leave Out players that worked well during the Week This is by far for me the worst thing in In management but it's I'd rather have This problem that to a place in So it would be great but unfortunately It looks like we're gonna be without Ends for tomorrow but we need to we need To accept it and all the people other Players will have an opportunity this is How life works and You know we will be hoping that the Dancer will be back with us as soon as Possible but in the meantime our full Attention in terms of playing has to go To the place that they can contribute And last one for me I know that you know Your answer after the game from between Now and then I know you've had some time To look at the film how would you assess What happened defensively in the last Little bit that gave New York all those Opportunities and then conversely how They were able to deny you the ability To not only play with the ball but get As many uh shot opportunities as you
Would have liked on Wednesday night For me will is uh and we spoke about That with the boys today that we had a Little bit more time to reflect Obviously we always with the coaching Staff we look at the game and we have Many possibility to play And we didn't we didn't And this is something that this is Something that we need to Address and overcome Because even after the 1-1 we started to Play again So and created another couple of chances So I believe that There is an element it's part of the Process of growing I think is more a Mental something that we need to believe More to be uh Active always and two of the solutions When we have the ball because too easily Maybe because we were winning and we Think that we have got something to lose We feel that is Let's say safer you know in inverted Comma safer to play long without going To build instead no and we gave them the Momentum the the games also leaves of Momentum it's not that Uh we could play against them like we Did here in the past and we just uh lost That momentum to play and then after When the momentum shift it's not so easy To bring it back
And I think that we have the capacity to Play for longer and if you give the Momentum to the opposition you decided To uh in the defensive mode the more They have the ball the more chances they Have to create so Uh they are two or three moments in Which they Create is true that they are short but a Lot of shots from the target they Um On Target but from far then obviously They hit the post they had a couple of Once in inside the box but I thought we Were well positioned to block it And but For me the main problems come from the Fact that we for some reason we don't Play and we stop that feeling safe and I always push on that point that we want To see a team that might make mistakes In plane but I'd rather us playing and Make a mistakes than to give the ball to The opposition and let them play Thank you so much good luck this weekend Thank you will thanks will uh Mikhail Let's go to you and we'll go to Jorge After that Good afternoon Christian how's it going Good afternoon Miguel fine thank you So with Enzo possibly not playing Tomorrow could we see Vinnie get back Into the squad or not yet Who Vinnie Vinnie Miller
Unfortunately I think he's injured as Well Do you have any details on that injury I Think he was uh Uh get in an MRI I was told that he got an MRI but I Think unfortunately he looks like that He's gonna be he's gonna be out for a Little while as well All right thank you so much you're Welcome All right Hey latanja how are you today fine thank You thanks good good um I wanted to ask Um you've played a lot of different Players in different roles this season Especially tinkering with that back line I wanted to know is it more because you Feel like these players have certain Capabilities that can fit multiple roles Or is it due to the necessities of what You currently have with the squad and is It something that you're looking to Address this window Good question good question I think is Uh A First of all I think that uh There are certain characteristics as I Said in the past that this quote needs And the I voice that to the front office They know And there is an element of that that you Just asked so
I am open and honest with you at the Same time I want to also to explore its Certain characteristics that our players Have for example try bill In a position as a right back or even a Try the deal in that because when we Play in our in a way that can transform I like to have certain plays with Certain characteristics that can help us In transition uh But at the same time yes there are Certain characteristics that I would Like to have in our Squad and that I Hope to address in this window as well Okay and then I know the window is Pretty short I think it closes August Fifths or something like that Um you know I think either is the fourth Or the eighth when he's dead it's early Yeah but you're right anyway he shot so Early yes yeah do you I know you said You I mean you you really can't control That but how confident are you you've Mentioned in the past that you needed Three players how confident are you that You'll get those players I think our front office uh is working On that and I need to obviously I trust Them and they know the again the players With the characteristics that I believe We need in order to move forward and to Be Um To to be able to compete at least to get
To the To the objective that we have but listen At the same time I am really focused on Our Squad and I want to maximize what uh What we have here I have a few young players that they are Improving on a daily basis maybe they Don't realize that or they do because Also when they go down to Crown Legacy Obviously they find and they make the Difference a lot of time when they go And play and I think it's down to the Fact that they work really hard in Training with the first team and with Players that they are experienced and That they can from which they can learn And they can compete so I think in that Sense Uh I can see the boys uh they especially The younger ones getting better and Better and for now I am totally focused And I have my they have my full trust Um Do we need some help do we need the Certain characteristics yes that we to Improve our Squad but in the meantime I Mean I don't lose my sleep over that I Have total confidence and in our in our Squad because I think that there is uh That there is uh a lot of potential Still to be explored but that requires Time uh Jorge and I understand that in Football especially at this level you Don't get a lot of time but you know I
Keep going uh you know with the players That uh that we have and uh Uh my focus is on them whoever is Available and uh I trust them I trust Them to do to do the job for us and to Give our best that's what I ask them I Don't ask anymore that to give the best That they've got that's for me is enough And then the last one for me I'm the Last three games it feels like there's Been missed opportunities you're leading At Red Bulls Um you can't uh you've had great Opportunities against Montreal you're Leading in New York is there something That you've mentioned to the squad maybe About Finding a way or getting over the line Where it feels like the team can get Three points but then you end up getting Draws Yeah I mean this is one way of looking At that I think that when you look at uh The teams we play away from home uh We play against uh good oppositions And maybe the the table Uh says differently but I can show you That both the Red Bulls and And New York City gave us a very very Difficult games And I've seen them playing really well Lately as well against other teams maybe More Accustomed to stay in the highest part
Of the table So I don't think that is everything uh Negative Is does he feel as a lost opportunity Maybe but at the same time especially The one against Morel where I thought That we should have won Uh but to get draws away from home in Those kind of pitches with this with Those themes I don't think is there's Nothing to be ashamed of Of course you want to when you are in Front you want to keep the lead and And to bring the three points at home But uh even to get a draw away from home I don't think is the worst thing in the World it's not that I want to accept uh Everything lightly but uh be realistic I Think also to come out of games and feel Disappointed With a draw is a testament that we are Growing as a team and as a group Thank you Thank you Uh Kenneth Hey Krista hope all is well Thank you I just wanted to ask you know obviously In the last couple of games there have Been a quad of draws you know what are Some of the positives you can take from The team as they still manage to score Points and haven't been able to haven't Had to drop games in terms of that
Yeah Um The positive is that we have a spirit we Have Um Character And because it's true that when you are In France uh you want to Bring the gamer home but it's also true That when you concede away from home and You get uh then the momentum is against You and then the environment against you And I feel the last year we lost few of Those Games Even being in front instead now I think We are More Are these to at least to manage the Situation and find a way of not Conceding Uh more Um At the same time I think Another positive is that Another well there are different Positive Um But uh What I want from our team [Music] Um What the ones from our team is to Sustain our performance
And and to be More close to the to the game that we Want to play with the board for longer Period in the game this yes and this is My focus more than anything because I Think we have the possibility to do so We're starting to address that Uh I don't want to be content but it's Not so much for the result because the Result in the end is not that bad but What is my worry and what is my What is my focus is the is the Performance and I think there is in us More than what we and what we show Awesome thank you Thank you thanks uh okay John and then We finish with Mike Okay hi Christian Cincinnati obviously has had a Tremendous season so far from from what You've seen what is it that's made them So good what what are some of the Biggest challenges that they'll present To you But this is the team that has been Together for uh uh for a while uh they Clarify the style that they want to have They found the the found a way of Playing which is very efficient in the Way that they want to play Um and because they're having success With that in terms of results Obviously they give you momentum and Belief
But uh also we need to remember that They have very very good plays in uh in The squad You know we know Acosta we know Kubo we Know badge is doing well the Midfield There are many good plays all glued that Already won with Toronto the MLS uh cup Uh Listen this is a this is a team that is Well coached that they know What they want to do they play Their Style Pretty efficiently as I said and we need To be we need to be aware of that but at The same time we want to keep our Progress and we want to keep developing Our identity and we will have to To accept the challenge of playing Against the team that is uh that is Running away at least in the East with The with with the points Scott R Field gave an interview I Believe it was either today or yesterday He's detailing how big of an influence Ashley Westwood had on his decision to Come here do you feel like that with Ashley being the captain and just being Able to have that stature that he has And that influence that he has that this Shows how much this club has grown where A players of that caliber can now talk To each other and give a good Recommendation of the organization and You're able to get a player of Scott R
Fields caliber in here through Word of Mouth like what Ashley was able to do Tell him about his experience with the Club so far Yeah yeah we are growing as a club I Know that there is a lot of expectation I said it many times but those Expectations has to be managed Um And uh and knowing that uh to go where We want to get we need to be congruent We need to be coherent And we have to do things without cutting Corners and I think a player like Ashley Westwood that has been in big leagues in Big clubs You can see that You can see that uh And these totally invested in in what uh In what Charlotte FC is doing and wants To do Is not a guy that will say yes to you And then just to say it evil voice his Opinion in the in the good time in the Bad time and I appreciate that That's what I want because you want to Grow we need to be honest with each Other But at the same time if he failed to Recommend the club to Scott our field Uh that tells that the club is moving in The right direction not always the right Direction is uh You see the every result that you want
On a weekly basis but Uh when you are inside and you see what Happens on a daily basis you can see That is a club that is moving forward Uh of course we make mistakes like Everybody we are not perfect by any Stretch of the imagination but we are Not cutting Corners we want to do things In the way that uh as to do things we All committed to Charlotte FC to bring It Forward Um and I think actually for me is the Perfect example of that and You know I don't think that any any Player that wants to work uh You know in the way that he likes to Work seriously and not cutting corners But uh you know doing the right things Uh will have anything to say against Charlotte FC Great good luck good luck tomorrow thank You John okay see Steve Sansa Steve We'll go with you quickly before I'm Finishing with my Plus we always finish with Mike so I Figured that hello Christian Um given the The path that Cincinnati has taken to Get where they are today going from Being the worst team in the league You know you know for several years to Now being at the top of the table do you Feel that this Should serve as you know I I don't want
To say a cautionary Tale But as uh a Positive uh Uh message to fans and stuff that it is A process that nothing safe for Atlanta In their second season Um you know it takes a while to to find Your form to find your identity and to To get to the top The Way Cincinnati is Done Yeah yeah I think that uh for me the Difficulties Uh looking also I think my personal experience that I Have I mean I can only talk about my Personal experiences And I can talk about looking from Outside in but when you look from Outside you always are you don't have to Forget you are on the outside so you Just speculate but looking at the Experience I had with the CD group I can I could see a team And then after a group that doesn't cut Corners and it takes time It takes time it and then it took Time By spending a lot of money because Really the real challenge is not To do well one season but to last And to be At the top Or there and thereby consistently this Is the real challenge for me so you use A term that I had many times the worst Team in the league
There the season in which maybe one or Two seasons in which they were figuring It out things And but you know the way we talk is the Worst team in the league They didn't have some results and then I'm after in football you get out after You get uh you know Under Pressure people start to Get shaky But the the real challenge is to us like For a play for the play is the same you Can have a youngster that come on the Pitch does well because there are no Expectations But the real challenge for us for me Especially when I handle a young player Like that is that how can I make sure That he lost that he become a player That consistently will become A An MLs player a pro So this is the not always is possible Not always is easy to do and not always We succeed But this has to be in our mind how can I Build something that can last and maybe To last you have to go through process That okay uh you do one season then next Season you do okay the next season they Think you should win it and then but is How we build the foundation for me and The foundation to build it takes time There is no shortcuts and we want to do
Something that is continuously Developing and progressing maybe not at The speed that some people would like we Also would I also would like to have a Team that within six months you know can Dominate the league but uh Uh the reality is is different and we Need to manage expectation and not so Much for me I mean I'll take whatever The the blame comes no problem at all But for the players but especially for The players especially that they need to Be given time To build the you know the the the the The team that represent Charlotte FC Uh and to give them the chance to Develop as well as a team and if we are Not patient with that I think we don't Do a good service we say that we support The team but we don't really support we Have to support in the moments in the Difficult moments I agree and I stand corrected I I uh Worst record and worst team are not Necessarily the same thing so I was Reading a listen I want to I want to Mention uh an American coach that I Starting to read few years ago and for Me was a massive source of inspiration Which is John Wooden from UCLA and the World is success and what is not and Obviously was a great coach and a great Inspiration for many people but he was Saying that for him winning in life is
About giving your best And they said of course everybody looked Look looked at him when he won 14 or 10 Leagues uh uscla 10 Championship but Then he said nobody mentioned the first 14 in which we didn't win anything and But he felt that he was probably most Successful in those Foundation years Than he was afterwards so it's put Things in perspective I know nobody is Going to give nowadays a professional Coach 14 years of patience but You know uh is how we measure success How we measure progress and I thought that many of the things that He said and that I was reading is really Inspired me Yeah his book is still on my shelf and And just in this area both Dean Smith at Carolina and Mike shazewsky at Duke were Not successful early on and the fans Wanted them out and that worked out okay So anyway thank you for your time and uh See you tomorrow Thank you thank you Steve all right Mike Good afternoon Christian good to see you Again sir good afternoon Mike thank you Uh as we've uh gone through this season With you guys Have you seen your your side play their Best yet or are they building no and you Continue to build that say no no no I've Not seen my My team to play the best football yet no
No At times we play well But uh our real Challenge and I think This is a good question Our real challenge is to play well with The ball and without the ball for longer Periods in the game and we have not done That yet and then you can ask me why This is something that we are addressing Here with the boys all together and we Need to overcome certain mental Obstacles That can come to a time and it's part of The process it's part of the growth Are they and you you have just addressed It at length about the build and trying To build consistency and build that are They are they taking steps in that Direction are you seeing that happening Yeah it will work on a daily basis on That we work on a daily basis on On improving details and improving the Way we play the way we defend We have a staff here that is really Committed to succeed they're really Committed to do a great job for Charlotte FC and they come with ideas we Come we confront The way we see football the way we Played last game Uh we have a structural organization Here that I'm very proud to have Uh and we analyze many things Um
And so you know uh But in the end the players when you come The moment on the pitch they have to Execute and it's up to to the boys which I have Full Trust Soul belief sometimes I think there is a Moment and listen I heard that many Times also in big big clubs In Europe that they go up to a certain Zillion and some of them they spend Hundreds and hundreds of millions and They can't go to the next step it might Take a few years to find out the right Formula even sometimes they think okay They they did it by buying so many Players by spending so many hundreds of Millions of Euros but You know it takes time there is no again I mean I mean I mentioned again this Group is it looks uh look how many years It took to win the champions league and Yet You know if you look at the interviews They always talk about the process how One defeat one year taught them Something and so forth and so forth and This is I mean play is that they are They want many many things National Internationally with the biggest Football group in the world and that Tells you that you know we want to Achieve everything uh straight away the There are certain mental obstacles that
We need to overcome individually and Collectively I want to get away from the philosophy After last week so I want to just see You know kind of get a temperature take A temperature there uh my last one uh Obviously we're gonna go to the movies Here and uh I've asked you over and over Again about your favorite actors and Certain actors uh I'm gonna I'm gonna Text Sophia Loren off the table Your favorite actress is who A Many but I would say Mary's trip and uh Robin Wright Is there a particular role that stood Out for for either Yeah In many movies in When He did I think Uh falling in love with the need over There no I think I think there was Quite an old book I throw you he's an Old movie even for yourself uh I'm I'm Older than everybody and then Probably right I love the way she even If she was a little bit Uh Evil in the House of Cards You know why I had to takes a feel to Run off the table right I can imagine but why why it's an
Italian actress I mean I that's a law That's all yeah that's what I thought And uh I give you if I give you if I Give you something that's a lifetime She's such an icon such an icon I Thought I hope one day you will ask me About directors [Music] I like but no but listen actress many Many actresses and These are the first two that came to my Mind so No baseball questions I'll get you a Director next week right thank you Christian good luck thank you thanks All right thanks
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