Through two USL Championship regular season fixtures to kick off the 2020 campaign, the Indomitable Club remains unbeaten and Sunday's game against Reno 1868 FC could be the perfect chance to claim the club's first win of the year.
After a 3-3 draw against Tacoma Defiance on Monday, the boys in Old Glory Red are already looking ahead to this weekend's upcoming rivalry clash against their Division A rivals.
Before Sunday's 6 p.m. PT nationally televised contest on ESPN 2, it's time to check in and see what the squad has to say prior to the run in with Reno this weekend.
Through two USL Championship regular season fixtures to kick off the 2020 campaign, the Indomitable Club remains unbeaten and Sunday’s game against Reno 1868 FC could be the perfect chance to claim the club’s first win of the year.
After a 3-3 draw against Tacoma Defiance on Monday, the boys in Old Glory Red are already looking ahead to this weekend’s upcoming rivalry clash against their Division A rivals.
Before Sunday’s 6 p.m. PT nationally televised contest on ESPN 2, it’s time to check in and see what the squad has to say prior to the run in with Reno this weekend.
Head Coach Mark Briggs
Head Coach Mark Briggs
On what the team needs to bring into Sunday's match…
"It’s got everything to do with heart, desire, focus. Focus. For me, that’s the big thing I took from those first two games. And now, what better an opportunity than against our local rival. A team that is a very good team with very good players and well coached by Ian [Russell]. We have an opportunity to put in a performance the club deserves, the supporters deserve, the city deserves."
On if playing a match on Monday against Tacoma is an advantage given 1868 FC hasn't played since March…
"Possibly. It’s nice for us to have been able to get 90 minutes under our belts. They don’t have that advantage, this is their first outing so it could be an advantage but it’s all about up here. and how we turn up to the game, how we prepare the focus we have when we turn up here on Sunday."
On what kind of performance the boss is looking for against Reno…
"What would really satisfy me is a 1-0 win. That for me would be the most satisfying result. I know we can score goals, I know we can play good football. I know we can do some attacking things well. But I want to see the desire, the competitiveness, for me to be better than you, for me to reach the ball before you, for me to go up and head the ball, that’s what I want to see."
On what the team needs to bring into Sunday’s match…
“It’s got everything to do with heart, desire, focus. Focus. For me, that’s the big thing I took from those first two games. And now, what better an opportunity than against our local rival. A team that is a very good team with very good players and well coached by Ian [Russell]. We have an opportunity to put in a performance the club deserves, the supporters deserve, the city deserves.”
On if playing a match on Monday against Tacoma is an advantage given 1868 FC hasn’t played since March…
“Possibly. It’s nice for us to have been able to get 90 minutes under our belts. They don’t have that advantage, this is their first outing so it could be an advantage but it’s all about up here. and how we turn up to the game, how we prepare the focus we have when we turn up here on Sunday.”
On what kind of performance the boss is looking for against Reno…
“What would really satisfy me is a 1-0 win. That for me would be the most satisfying result. I know we can score goals, I know we can play good football. I know we can do some attacking things well. But I want to see the desire, the competitiveness, for me to be better than you, for me to reach the ball before you, for me to go up and head the ball, that’s what I want to see.”
Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
On the powerful pregame moment of unity both sides shared on Monday…
"On a personal level, I felt a responsibility in regards to the power of my actions and the power of my voice and I think I’m extremely grateful that as a team, we had conversations about it. Multiple conversations, and the ultimate conversation which was the last one we had coming out to play two days ago was that we all agreed to do it. And as strong as one voice and one action can be, the power of the collective is undefeated. So I was grateful that the majority of people, not just on my team but in the stadium that day amongst the other team and the people that did all the work to put that game on, our coaching staff, the benches, it seemed like everyone understood the collective power that we had and the collective message we were trying to promote."
On what it was like playing without fans in attendance…
"It was strange. We all anticipated it to be strange. Fans are such an important part of this sport, if not the most important part in terms of the continuation of the sport and growing it and promoting it. We talked about it before, regardless of how you get yourself ready for a game, whether you need an atmosphere or peace and tranquility, you just need to block everything out and hone in mentally on what that one thing is you need personally. I think that we tried to do that as a team and I think there were moments where we successful doing it and moments where we miss some atmosphere from the fans being able to help us along, but as players on the field, it’s our responsibility to try to maintain that for 90 minutes."
On if playing on national TV will have any impact on the squad…
"I think it’s going to be like any other game. Us as a team, we have to do a good job, we do a good job and continue to do a good job. It doesn’t matter who is watching us play, it just matters what we do on the field. We’re grateful to be in the national spotlight. We believe we have a team that deserves to be seen by as many eyes as possible so we’re grateful for that opportunity but we’re grateful for any opportunity when we get to be out on the field."
On the powerful pregame moment of unity both sides shared on Monday…
“On a personal level, I felt a responsibility in regards to the power of my actions and the power of my voice and I think I’m extremely grateful that as a team, we had conversations about it. Multiple conversations, and the ultimate conversation which was the last one we had coming out to play two days ago was that we all agreed to do it. And as strong as one voice and one action can be, the power of the collective is undefeated. So I was grateful that the majority of people, not just on my team but in the stadium that day amongst the other team and the people that did all the work to put that game on, our coaching staff, the benches, it seemed like everyone understood the collective power that we had and the collective message we were trying to promote.”
On what it was like playing without fans in attendance…
“It was strange. We all anticipated it to be strange. Fans are such an important part of this sport, if not the most important part in terms of the continuation of the sport and growing it and promoting it. We talked about it before, regardless of how you get yourself ready for a game, whether you need an atmosphere or peace and tranquility, you just need to block everything out and hone in mentally on what that one thing is you need personally. I think that we tried to do that as a team and I think there were moments where we successful doing it and moments where we miss some atmosphere from the fans being able to help us along, but as players on the field, it’s our responsibility to try to maintain that for 90 minutes.”
On if playing on national TV will have any impact on the squad…
“I think it’s going to be like any other game. Us as a team, we have to do a good job, we do a good job and continue to do a good job. It doesn’t matter who is watching us play, it just matters what we do on the field. We’re grateful to be in the national spotlight. We believe we have a team that deserves to be seen by as many eyes as possible so we’re grateful for that opportunity but we’re grateful for any opportunity when we get to be out on the field.”
Drew Skundrich
Drew Skundrich
On if wearing the captain's armband had an impact on the way he played against Tacoma…
"For me, it’s not super different from the way that I was playing. I think I lead by example and that shows in my work rate and my attitude and approach to the game. So I think adding the vocal point will be the bigger task for me. Just helping guys along, giving them encouragement, trying to be positive, trying to direct them around if I see something, relaying messages from players to coaches so I think that’ll be the big thing about being captain."
On his confidence level on the offensive front, specifically his pass that set up the third goal…
"One thing that [Coach} Briggs is really good at is telling us to express ourselves and to not worry about making mistakes, so that gives us confidence to play those long balls. You see RoRo play one of those all the time during the game so seeing him do it and having your coach behind you saying do it, try new things, express yourself, that gives us confidence to try those balls and it worked really well that time."
On the overall offensive performance given his side scored three goals…
"The positive side of the goals were, the set piece was a great header, great ball by RoRo. I think Darek’s goal was great team play. From the midfield perspective, we just have to keep moving and keep trying to play ball forwards as quickly as possible. Everyone knows it’s not the result that we wanted. We scored three goals but could have had a lot more. We’re just tightening up the finishing aspect, the final third aspect of our game, and then defensively we have to be more organized. A lot of things to continue to improve upon."
On if wearing the captain’s armband had an impact on the way he played against Tacoma…
“For me, it’s not super different from the way that I was playing. I think I lead by example and that shows in my work rate and my attitude and approach to the game. So I think adding the vocal point will be the bigger task for me. Just helping guys along, giving them encouragement, trying to be positive, trying to direct them around if I see something, relaying messages from players to coaches so I think that’ll be the big thing about being captain.”
On his confidence level on the offensive front, specifically his pass that set up the third goal…
“One thing that [Coach} Briggs is really good at is telling us to express ourselves and to not worry about making mistakes, so that gives us confidence to play those long balls. You see RoRo play one of those all the time during the game so seeing him do it and having your coach behind you saying do it, try new things, express yourself, that gives us confidence to try those balls and it worked really well that time.”
On the overall offensive performance given his side scored three goals…
“The positive side of the goals were, the set piece was a great header, great ball by RoRo. I think Darek’s goal was great team play. From the midfield perspective, we just have to keep moving and keep trying to play ball forwards as quickly as possible. Everyone knows it’s not the result that we wanted. We scored three goals but could have had a lot more. We’re just tightening up the finishing aspect, the final third aspect of our game, and then defensively we have to be more organized. A lot of things to continue to improve upon.”
