Q: What happened with the red card from your point of view?
A: You’re finding me in a bad mood right now and I’m in a bad mood because of the result of the game, nothing else. Very emotional game. Lots of highs for us, lots of opportunities, goal-scoring chances. The group was knocking on the door all day long, we just couldn’t get the finish.
A: A bright spot for me was the group’s mentality. We left last weekend with a sour taste in our mouths and to see my group bounce back and get our first clean sheet of the season, I’m super proud of our group for doing that because it takes all 11 of us to do that. The silver-lining is that we created chances but every time I say that in the games I’m still walking away disappointed because I know we should’ve won that game. We should’ve won that game against Houston tonight and we just didn’t.
Q: What led to Amandine Henry’s start?
A: Amandine brought so many good things to the Royals tonight. Her ability to control play, dictate tempo, even just directing out there, you could see her kind of helping out some of our young ones with passing angles and places to go and pass with the ball. She’s just next level vision so I’m super thankful for her to join our squad this week. It came at a time when we needed that boost and she really helped with that connectivity through midfield.
Q: Was this asked of her or was it nature?
A: We knew that by signing her, we were going to bring value to our midfield and bring value to our whole entire team. We knew that she would have that next level of connectivity between lines for us. You saw her popping out wide, you saw her getting the ball low, she joined the attack well and she was all over the pitch for us tonight and was a big difference maker. The whole group really rallied around her and you saw it in the play tonight. Much improved Royals team.
Q: Did you see any good individual performances tonight?
A: It was a great team performance. We had individuals step up and make plays, create chances, but we also had a great team effort to get the clean sheet. So many recovery runs, but the entire group got back and to protect the goal and I’m proud of the mentality of the group this week. This is huge for us and it’s going to build momentum into our game against Angels City next weekend.
Q: What can you say about the new signing?
A: Just with all of our signings I’m excited for a new impact in the squad. We’re bringing levels of international experience, specifically with Ana Tejada. She’s going to bring youth and a great vision for our future of the Royals but until she gets here and gets the boots on the ground then we will really see the impact she’ll make with this group.
Q: What is her style of play?
A: The Royals’ style of play is to build through the thirds and the players that we are bringing in are only going to contribute to that and we are excited for fresh faces mixed with the current talent that we already have. Just driving this team forward because this team has potential and we’re a young team that’s building our identity and all these pieces that we’re adding right now are just going to add to who we are.
Q: Is there an update on? Ify Onumonu and the injury list?
A: Ify is still on our injury list. She’s returning back from her ankle. They’re all kind of coming back around this time next week, which is excellent. I’m hoping that we see a lot more Royals players in their jerseys and available for selection.
Q: What was the red card for?
A: I haven’t heard yet and I didn’t stay out there long enough to find out.
Q: We need to know where was that ball going the face, the neck, the chest? Where did you get hit?
M: Straight to the throat. And I was just happy it wasn’t an own goal. But, yeah I was like of course this was going to be cleared right into my throat right now.
Q: The other question I have for you is how do you feel like the team is doing with building up from the back to this point? We talked about it previously. Do you feel like we are growing in that? How is it looking?
M: We are definitely growing in that aspect and we are now initiating the attack from our backline, getting it out wide and creating in that wide area. So, that’s been massive. We really honed in on that this week. We implemented it well. So, now it’s how we get into the final third and capitalize on our chances.
Q: First clean sheet, you got the throne tonight. How’d that feel to get that first shutout for you guys?
M: I’ve been desperately wanting a clean sheet. The whole team has. I was also very focused but it took the whole team. I think the big difference here was the recovery runs. Hannah had saved the game, I think when she came back into that box. And so, it really took the whole team but super super happy to get that shutout.
Q: And then what did you see on Amandine and her debut helping out with that clean sheet a little bit?
M: Yeah, I can just tell she’s a veteran. It’s nice. She really held down that midfield and she got some good spots. Got some shots off, got some crosses. So, we are so happy to have her and I think her debut was great.
Q: What went well tonight? What did you see that was positive and what would you like to call out?
P: I’m really proud of the group for the mentality, I think that was there. I think in other games we’ve been a bit flat, a bit, waiting for the game to happen, where I think we showed that we were attacking tonight. So first just credit to the group for mentality. And then also one thing I think we did well is that we actually had an attacking style tonight. It wasn’t just transition moments, so that’s a positive. But of course, myself included, we need to put them away. As much as it’s good to get a point, we want the three points and we had the opportunity tonight. So it’s just that next step but I’m proud of the group for progressing.
Q: Amy has talked about it a couple of times how you’ve worked and practiced building out from the back. What seems to be the necessary piece on top of that is what happens in that final attacking third. What do you think will help with that? What will get you into better positions? What more do we need to see in order for you guys to put it on the net?
P: I think honestly we need to train it, but I think one positive piece is Amandine coming in tonight. I had so many connecting passes with her tonight that I think I haven’t had in the past as an attacker. So, her stepping up and just being that midfield option and playing those balls through for us tonight, not that it was surprising, but I don’t think we’ve had that. So having that piece from there we just need to build on it and practice. Okay, we are in the final third now we need to put those ones away. So I just think it’s getting repetitions but I’m glad that we’re progressing forward slowly through the lines.
Q: You guys are still playing a lot of very young players. How do you feel like they’re developing and maturing game by game even though it’s still pretty early in the season?
P: Yeah I had a press conference and we talked about the result of the last game and how to deal with that? And what do you tell the young ones? And I said, it’s maturity. And I think it showed tonight where the girls really took it on the chin this week. We had some tough film sessions this week, but really they just took it on the chin and just want to learn and want to get better and just be the best they can be for the team and for themselves. It’s just that growth mindset and it’s just encouraging them. But honestly, I’m so proud of the girls for just handling it and being mature and just moving forward and being focused on the next game.
Q: First clean sheet for you guys tonight. I know you’re more of an attacking player, but as captain, what does that mean for this team?
P: I mean, we talk about it, that defense starts from the top. So I credit Hannah and Ally just pressing from the front and then our defense reading off of it. But also shout out to the defense, Mandy for just keeping that clean sheet. That’s huge, and I think it’s great for our morale.
Q: Talking about the defense, up top, however, do you think that you can press like that on a regular basis? Because that looked different.
P: Yeah, I think honestly, like this week, Amy really got on us about how we can’t have half pressure up top because then it affects everyone else. So, it’s just really taking that responsibility of going to press and going to press hard and we’re going to make teams uncomfortable, which I think we did that tonight.
Q: In the attack, how much of it is mental with the finishing now? Because somebody might not score a good chance in the first or second game and that bleeds into the third or fourth game. And now it’s six games into the season and people are just pressing a little bit.
P: I think even for me, it’s hard, because I want to score every single game and I want to win every single game, but I know as an athlete that it changes so quickly. So, we want it to change for the better. So, I do think it’s about how we get the first one so that the floodgates open, but we’ll take that personally and we’ll take that responsibility. But again, we know it can change so quickly. So it’s about how we can possibly change?
Q: How do you feel about switching positions so often? You’ve been played from the left wing to the right wing in different games. Do you train on that very often?
P: I think there has been a lot of fluidity in our front line and specifically me. But at the end of the day, I just want to be on the field and I just want to impact anyway I can. So for me, it’s really just having an understanding of the right and the left and the relationship with Po as my left back or Olivia Griffiths as my right back, so it’s the fluidity. I think I just take it as an opportunity of just a different look, and maybe how I can be better, and how can I challenge the other team, or, propose a different question for them but there’s a lot of fluidity, and I think it’s just understanding that my role can change at any moment, but how can I be me at the end of the day.
Q: One of the things that the team did very well today was recovering balls in the midfield. I think the team was struggling a little bit in the past with that, but today, with you and Mikayla Cluff, I think that the team was very good at those moments. How important do you think that is?
P: I think it’s huge, especially in the NWSL. I think honestly, our game against Louisville taught us a lesson that we have to be good in recovery. So we went over that, it’s one of those things that I think when you don’t do it, it’s more obvious. So it means a lot that you can see tonight how hard we’re working in the recovery, because it’s something that could go unnoticed. Shout out to Mikayla, Amandine, Zoe and everyone was working really hard. For me, it’s just a mentality thing. You know, as soon as you lose it, how can we get back and, you know, get the ball again?
