Christian Lattanzio sat down for his first press conference of 2023 with the media. Lattanzio discussed “[making] the Carolinas proud” starting with preseason, the newest editions to the team, and all minds set to get Charlotte FC in the playoffs this season.
Coach appreciate your time I trusted Significantly better temperatures down In Florida than it is in Charlotte this Afternoon but what can you tell us about Um Christian's back injury what exactly Was the extent of the injury when did he Have surgery and when is he expected to Join the club and preseason camp The weather is good here I'm not trying to tag the question Yeah Christiana to as you saw from the Announcement from the club is to undergo A surgery there is uh just clean up uh One of the one of the discs at the back Nothing too serious but something that Will keep him out of the squad for a While We are monitoring with the performance Department on a daily basis what kind of Recovery is going to have but I spoke With Christian It was a day hospital so he didn't even Stay in the hospital they did like the Procedure and they went back home And these uh undergoing recovery so We are waiting for him we are waiting to Come back he shouldn't be a long long Delay so we are monitoring the situation On On a daily basis after a few days every Few days we do we regroup and we ask the Performance Department how it's going And apparently the surgery was went Really well I spoke with
With Christian on a number of occasions Already and it seems quite upbeat Cool thank you Ashley uh we'll go to Will and then Alex next Christian when you brought in Enzo Capetti this off season I know that you Won't really know this question until You see him on the pitch but Philosophically what do you feel like is The best case scenario for what he can Bring to the club especially from a link Up to its standpoint with Carol Spinarski Yeah we were following a number of Strikers that we wanted to bring in and We decided then so was our our man our Target main target So I even flew to Buenos Aires to look At him personally and What I like about him is that the guy That is really is really determined to Score goals is uh he likes to attack the Space he likes to be intense in his Plane He brings personality brings speed he Brings power and this ability to It's called goals to be brave attacking The Defenders attacking the goal all the Time And the thing that we needed that kind Of qualities in the team given that we Have Carol that this is another special Striker that we really value and uh like But with different characteristics so we
Thought those two Coming together could be Could work well for our Football Club Hi Christian hope you're doing well Hello Alex Hey uh Among the many things that happened this Off season Christian folks retires and He joins the staff can you um just take Me through that story uh what did you Talk to him about after the season Um why did he ultimately join the staff Etc Well he was uh something that Came along I First of all I have to say that we we Have assembled we were lucky enough to Assemble a fantastic coaching staff here Uh I can't be more happy and proud of How the guys are working they bring Energy they bring knowledge they bring Experience and Christian I know that Is passion for football and was already Looking at what to do how professionally After he finished his career as a player Uh he has my complete trust he's a guy That brings detail his Focus Uh already already working already Acquire some coaching Badges and work Into the highest ones So I think he was just a perfect choice Because he knew the system he knew the Way
Uh of football we want to play and so When I didn't want to make a decision For him because I don't think anybody should tell a Player when to stop his play days it was Uh his decision but I told him that I Would have been happy should he have Taken that decision to have been in this In my stuff because We see things very similarly in many Different ways so Um yeah I think that we are very happy And lucky to have him in our coaching Staff but again I repeat all the Coaching staff assembled Aaron but Obviously ended the state and wrote the Analyst Andrea to join us on a different Uh capacity I think we have I am so Happy and And Charlotte's football club in my Humble opinion is very lucky to have This great group of people together Thanks Alex hi Jonathan and then we'll Go to Jorge Thanks will hey Christian this is Jonathan from mlsoccer.com Um put a date on it do you expect Kalina To be available for that February 25th Opener or is there a further Target date And secondarily where do you feel this Squad stands right now going into the Club second season kind of taking a big Picture look across the league and just Kind of how Charlotte's measuring up
Going into its second year as a as a Club yeah Uh so Jonathan the first question Regarding Christian we are as I said we Are monitoring uh We are not sure exactly the date when He's coming back I don't know if he's going to be ready Exactly for the first game of the season But we will see how the recovering goes But it shouldn't be like a lot lot later Um Then regarding our Squad I think I we Are very focused on ourselves we have A very group a very good group of Players that we like and that we have Been already doing work with them from Last season so they know the system and We didn't want to disrupt the group too Much but we knew and we know that we Need to have to add some quality intents And experienced players in in different Positions so our job and I think that The front office and The Scouting Department have done a good job In identifying the targets that we Wanted so enso completely was one Ashley Westwood was another one you know it's Not just play is that They are pushed to ourself and then we Decide is we have a scouting Department That analyze together with the coaching Department exactly the profile that we Need and then we try to go for the ones
That we can we can have and I me Personally have been a long time admirer Of Ashley Westwood since I was working In Premier League And completely the same is a play that I Followed for a while and And so we are going like pinpoint you Know the the players and uh and not just Making changes for making for the sake Of it because the group of players that We have we believe uh as the staff we Talk about them on a daily basis we Believe in them very much and then we Just wait For this first few friendlies that will Have in pre-seasoned to see what we have To do but for now I met people what I Have and I am together with the coaching Staff we are very happy to work with a Group of players that we have Jorge go ahead and then we'll go to Carol after that Hey Christian good to see you again hey Sorry thank you good to see you too Uh mine is a pretty quick question Um I know you're the arena has a bit was In and out of the team last season I Wanted to know is he a player that you Count on for this next season And it's not a player that I count on uh I I like Jordy we had conversation the Personally sometimes professionally we We kind of see things in the same way With all the players and so
Uh is not necessarily a player account On the next season uh but you know this Is part of football and we need to We need to move on and we have to focus On on the players and the profiles that We have at the moment I've got uh four Wingers that I like and trust and then We have Adam armor coming back that me Personally I see more as an attacking Player than a defending one And so we will reassess the situation Going forward You're welcome Carol go ahead Welcome back thank you thank you Carol Good to see you There he is Right Guzman is uh Uh is with us obviously here in Florida Is uh continuing his rehab program As you can imagine the same character That you show on the pitch you show it Also outside of the pitch and we wanted To keep him Very much into the loop with everything That goes on tactically and how our team Is developing so He works really hard on a daily basis Individually he has a individual program And is followed individually by our Performance Department He's a big part of our group on the Beach and of the pitch and so Uh is rehab is going forward and I think
He's recovering hopefully quicker than He was initially thought of because of His uh his professionality and because Also how the guys and the performance Department are following his progress Ive is back is training he was already Training with us at the end of last Season at the very end and he came back Ready to go he has been training in all The training sessions so he is Effectively a new player for us and is a Guy that we like his quality he's a calm Guy to have a round is really Uh is really a joy to have him in in the Group so Is a is a guy he's a player in which we Believe very much and we think that he Can give a different dimension also our Attacking play Thank you your work okay let's go to Jess and then we'll go to Sam after that Yeah when you look back at 2022 what do You feel like the biggest thing the Squad needs to work on Collective will Be to see an improvement in a 2023 Season Well a number a number of things we need To improve first of all is uh and this Is the responsibility My responsibility and the coaching staff Responsibility to consolidate our model Of the game we want to create A team that is uh that's Dynamic that is Aggressive in his play
That wants to make the the club and the Carolinas proud so when we go on to the Pitch we know that we carry certain Responsibility and we want to mirror That with the game With a way of playing that mirror this Uh energy that we feel in the Carolinas So But the other thing that we need to Improve is if we want to play in a Certain way we need to have a mentality That goes with that So the first year sometimes away from Home on on few occasions unfortunately We left points on the road even when We probably deserved a little bit more But if we didn't go then is because it's Our fault so we need to improve of that And that we are trying to build Alongside the football side we are Trying to build a resilience and the Togetherness that we want to carry in uh In our in our season and started from This pre-season that's why the work with The new coaching staff is uh is Priceless because these guys bring a lot Of energy a lot of Togetherness and I think and we hope That it's gonna be seen in the in the Team in the way we play next season as I Said many times last season Jessica we Want to be Uh humble but also ambitious and Hopefully we we can show something that
Everybody can be proud Thanks so much thank you Sam go ahead come into Arturo after you Christian happy 2023. thank you Sam same To you Um so now we have more of a Christian Potassium Squad than we did last year You know last year you inherited a team This year you've had a draft and an Off-season and the second half of last Year to put more of your stamp on it can You talk a little bit to how Um you've crafted the team since you Took over and what you're looking for This coming season Yeah for us the most for me Um One of the most important thing is to Have quality and intensity as I told you In the past as I told the scouting Department I'm I don't try to complicate Things but our job is to make it easy so I want players that they are fully Committed uh when they have the ball Where they don't have the ball and they Can work for 90 minutes with quality so This is a big challenge I know that Everybody Would like to have that but I am very Determined to bring that to our Football Club So When what I was looking with the front Office and with the sporting director
The Scouting Department the coaching Staff is to look at the positions that For us are key in which we needed more Improvement In those areas so intensity quality and A little bit of experience because Also to have a young Squad not just Necessarily in terms of age but in terms Of professional games played at this Level And we have few players in our Squad That we raid highly but they need a Little bit of time to acquire this Experience so that's why the also the Acquiring of Ashley Westwood the Acquiring of encyclopedi and to have the Confirmation that I wanted to keep Arizona full I think that we have we're Starting to blend the youth uh so Vinimelo is another new player so to Speak because we haven't seen him last Season on the on the pitch But is a young player with no experience In MLS so we wanted to create this blend Of energy and at the same time see an Intensity but at the same time with Quality and experience and this is where We are trying to go Thank you and one quick one how does That approach dovetail into picking up The additional international roster Spots yeah we as I said we have a very Good scouting Department that is looking In different directions so
Whenever the possibility of taking a Play that we will think it would fit in Our system We need to be ready and that's why we Wanted to be ready should we find Somebody that is not American or doesn't have a green card Also we are we have a number of players That they enrolled in the green card and We hope to have A few of them ready before the end of The season but sorry before the start of The season Thank you thank you very much thank you Sam uh Arturo and then Carlos after you Christian thank you for your time it's Good to see you again thank you likewise How's the process been like for the guys That are coming into the team from the Draft guys like hamadi and what's the Importance of having somebody like Ben Bender uh in the team talking to them Somebody that's been through the entire Sister season with with the team uh are They transitioning well from you know Adapting to a newer system to a Professional system how do you see the Guys that are coming from the draft Yeah we have a number of guys that they Come also because of the the new MLS and X pro team that we have Um I am a big admirer of the American Players so I always wanted to have a Stronghold of American players around
Because Of many different qualities that I Believe they bring to the team so not Just been Bender but in the past Brandt Bronica went through this process and uh You know many others George Marks for Example and so that he actually comes From Clemson which is the same University from which shamady come from So To have them around for me is is Priceless because They know the system they can understand The transition but the mud and that can Help but there is also a Time A time frame that they need Regardless to adjust to the speed of the Game And we can see with all the guys that They come here they contribute they have A fantastic attitude a great energy Positivity but obviously the quality and Is at the beginning especially because It's the first week is not so easy to Adjust To the demands of the of the first team And the more quality we bring from International Players the more difficult But challenging I would say for them and I believe that they are learning many Things in terms of how to approach the Training on the pitch tactically Technically and physically but also Mentally outside of the pitch
But I think that they have been felt Welcome from everybody and we A and really blend them in all the Sessions that we had so so far so good Thank you Arturo um Carlos and then John Hey how you doing Christian this is Carlos from SCT Super Show I have a Question First of all I don't have a But more about what is the situation the Journey right now do you want to come in Here for this section uh next season and The second one the fans especially the Latino Community they are very excited About the second season Channel FC uh But uh can't spare defense about this Thing so thank you so much good luck for This season thank you Carlos So the situation with Jordy I think that The club will make an announcement I Guess soon so I don't want to Talk too much about that I already Answered before regarding the the Charlotte Supporters community Listen we are very excited and uh We want I can talk but as you know talk Is cheap and we really want to create a Team we want to build the team together With the players with the coaching staff And with the front office that you guys And everybody associated with the cello Football club can be proud of So again is I don't want to start to
Talk Uh now about about uh Everything that we are doing I can Assure you is aim to make you and to Make every supporter of Charlotte FC Proud And we are excited about that we know How much Energy and I said this on number of Occasions and I keep saying it that uh With a little experience that I have in Different uh leagues in the world but uh Honestly the atmosphere that there is in In the Bank of American stadium is Second to none we loved it we love to Play in front of our support and then we Love to play for our supporters so and I Want the our supporters to be proud of The team and from and about the way we Play as well for us is very important It's not just the result but how uh we Play for us is uh just as important Thank you Carlos John Thank you a Christian happy 2023 good to Speak with you again thank you John Same to you Um thank you uh you mentioned Ashley Westwood with before you knew him a Little bit when you were working in the Premier League um just talk about the Experience he brings and all Talent he Obviously has and with still having a Relatively young Squad you mentioned That you wanted to blend some of the
Players in capetti also but just that Experience that Westwood has a playing At the highest level and one of the best If not the best leagues in the world and How he can add that into to the squad For this upcoming season But as I say as I said before I have Been a long time admirer of Ashley as a Player and then I have been working with some of the Guys that they they coached in So all the All the reports that we got about the Person first and then the players that I Knew are were great so for us it was an Obvious choice The quality that it brings there are a Number of qualities first of all he has Played hundreds of game in probably what I would Define the the most difficult League in the world And And I think that it shows in his Approach is very humble but very Detailed very focus is very personable He came and he looked like he was Already here since I don't know five Years Uh you know when when you see him in the Squad you don't have the impression that He's a guy that just arrived but he's uh You get impression this guy that has Been here Uh from day one last season
So that tells you how uh adaptable how Intelligent is the is the is the guy on The pitch is calm he's composed good Communicator uh technically very gifted Uh very Dynamic very intense uh with big Qualities uh of delivering as we saw but Also in in plain and so uh is one of the Quiet leaders in the club you know this Is a guy that has been captain of Burnley that has been for years one of The most hard performance team in the in The Premier League so Uh for us to have him here is a blessing You know second year here for this club Your first year in charge fully um you Almost let this team to the playoffs as You were alive until the final week of The regular season do you feel I know Obviously the goal for every team is to Win the MLS Cup but do you feel like With the squad you have with the Additions you made that this is now a Playoff team and also I know the squads Are completely different but Austin After their first year with the jump That they made in their second year Getting to the Western Conference Final Do you almost look at what they did and Use that as maybe somewhat of a template For what you can do with your squad I mean certainly the example of Austin Is an inspiration for us is an example That we would like to follow but we have To we are Charlotte and they are hosting
So every every Club is built and there's A different philosophy but I rest Assured that our objective I'm not gonna We are not gonna hide behind it is to go Into the playoffs and then after we will See what happens so we must uh fight for This objective we have To compete to win every game we try to Compete to be successful in every game And this has to be our aim then after we Will see but uh one thing at a time and I'm not here to say we are gonna Achieve this so we are going to achieve That but I can promise that we will Fight to go to the playoff that has to Be our objective and to advance as much As possible in all the competitions in Which we are in which we are in which we Will play so And And as as I said the last year and this Year with the Trim in the squad and to try to make it A little bit closer to what I think we Need Um we need to be Humble but ambitious so Little by little we will get to where we Want to be Thank you very much thank you John all Right we've got time for just one more So we'll Circle back to Ashley to close Out the press conference Well I'm going to take advantage of that
Generosity will and make it a Two-partner so first part is having had Time to look at George Mark's Development as well as that of Pablo's Is the one showing a little bit better Than the other thus far in pre-season And that being said being a full week Into preseason now where does the club Stand I'm sure it's Leaps and Bounds Compared to where things were last year For starters there aren't three Consecutive weekends of snow preventing You from going to Clemson so there's That So should you start the press conference You close it and you ask me who is Better between George and Pablo you're Welcome oh yeah exactly no George and Pablo there are two guys in Which we have full confidence 100 I have Full confidence the club has got full Confidence the uh The coaching staff has got full Confidence so they have different Characteristics Different morphology different way of Interpreting the same position And so I cannot say one is better than The other one they are on this they Started on the same level feel that they Know what to expect They were here last season so There is this healthy competition the Death there is there is this possibility
That they have to play also in Pre-season more minutes that they Probably would have if Christian was was Fit so whenever there is a Uh a problem that could be also an Opportunity so we want to look at that So there is more opportunities For these two guys So we will see we will monitor the Situation they both will have chances to To play it to impress us we know already What they are capable of And they have to be given time like Every other players will be given time So At the moment actually I cannot really Say who's in front of the other one Level Playing Field and I didn't get the Second part of your question sorry about Uh Yes we're where things stand at this Point right now after you know full week In preseason if it's an 11-step ladder Are you on step four step seven where Are things in now seeing step 27 out of 45. no please Ashley is uh we are I feel We feel wonderful the first week was Really great Uh the location where that we chose uh Is fine is great We are into Miami facilities the weather Has been Uh quite generous with us just like a Couple of days a little bit cold but
Other than that the The Sun Shines and We had few days in which we could even Train with short sleeves and The atmosphere within the camp is great I couldn't ask for more honestly I've Been in few places on camps and this is This raids one of the best Because of many things because of the Way the group is coming together because Of the work ethic and the energy the Boys are bringing because of how the Coaching staff already settled in And blend together In many different ways they feel this Feels really great now our challenge is To make sure that we keep the energy we Keep the intensity and we keep building On what we have but the first from as The first week Is gone this is the Beginning today of the week two uh I am Very very happy about everything as I Said the challenge is can we keep the Same and stepping forward and you know Even building on this this is our big Challenge Thank you you're welcome all right we'll Wrap it up there everyone Christian Thank you for being generous with your Time Um we'll get these assets out to Everyone as soon as possible
Charlotte North Carolina – The City of Breweries and Breweries
|
Charlotte North Carolina – The City of Breweries and Breweries
Charlotte, North Carolina is a city that’s full of history. It’s also a place where you can experience all four seasons. This is one of the top reasons people move to Charlotte.
The weather in Charlotte is ideal for a lot of people. In the early spring, you can expect a mix of warmer and cooler days, while in the summer, the city can get hot.
But in the summer, the city is known for having plenty of outdoor activities. Many people enjoy jogging in Freedom Park. There are several athletic fields and paved trails. Another great spot is the Catawba River.
With a strong economy, Charlotte is a great place to live. Many people move to Charlotte and are able to find employment shortly after. Compared to most other cities, the cost of living in Charlotte is more affordable.
Charlotte is also a good place for families. Families can attend charter schools. Children can also take part in neighborhood school programs.
Sports are an important aspect of life in Charlotte. You can enjoy football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and other sports. Fans of these sports are passionate about their teams. Some teams are based in Charlotte, while others are in other states.
If you like beer, Charlotte has hundreds of breweries. Catawba Brewing and Triple C Brewing are just two of the many great breweries in the area.
Charlotte also has great vineyards. Wine and grape production is a big industry in the Charlotte area. The city is close to Lake Norman and Blowing Rock.