For the first time ever, Philadelphia Union will take on St. Louis City -- it all goes down on Saturday, and before the action, Head Coach Bradley Carnell sat down with Digital Club Reporter Sage Hurley for a candid conversation about the match ahead over a cup of coffee.
Q: This match in particular brings about a couple of challenges that this team hasn't had to face so far this season -- seven Philadelphia Union players were called up to their respective national teams. That's the second most in the entire league. Olwethu Makhanya also isn't available for selection after picking up a red card against Nashville. How do you as a coach switch gears from having the same starting XI for the first four matches to looking at the group you have here now, assessing it, and crafting a lineup for this occasion?
A: We pushed the guys as much as they could, knowing that they were going to be going away, right? We had this equation coming up sooner than later. We knew it was going to come up. It was inevitable that we'd go through this.
Then unfortunately against Nashville, we fall short a little bit. But yeah, proud of the group so far, we've started the season with new debutants, there's been so many success stories early on, and we've gained a lot of traction, gained a lot of respect in the league.
I'm really happy about the environment of the team right now -- the training environment and on and off the field learning environment, and where we are as a group right now. For me, it's about seven, eight new opportunities, right? Everyone's chomping at the bit. Guys are training well, people are pushing neck and neck. So you know now that we can actually change, and we're excited to get the players on the field as well.
Q: That word opportunity stands out -- there will be opportunities for players who might not have seen the pitch as much as they would have liked to possibly get a chance. What has been your message to those guys, and how have they been this week in training?
A: Listen, it's always about, and I say it every time we're here, compete as every single day. You're trying to take somebody's job away. The life of a pro is, there's always somebody knocking at the door. Whether that's as a coach, whether it's as a player or a staff member, there's always somebody waiting for their opportunity and if you train hard enough, if you compete hard enough, the opportunities will come because situational events might happen. National team call-ups, injuries form, these things will happen during the course of the season. Right now, opportunities are presenting themselves, and like I said, we're so excited to get guys on the field because they thoroughly deserved their appearance or their opportunities.
Q: A week like this can be a little bit different in training -- a few less bodies on the field. I saw even yourself and your assistant coach, Mitch Hildebrandt were out there in drills. What was something that stood out to you on the pitch this week?
A: Well, normally, the camera moves really quickly, because we play so fast. But with Mitch and myself, it was like moving really slow, right?
No, I mean, we just to try to create certain pictures, what we're trying to give the boys to feel familiar and comfortable with what the opponent might present, and if we're numbers down, Mitch and I do it as best as we can to try and recreate certain pictures.
There's different learning environments. There's a practical learning environment, and there's the images that we take from the trainings and the games, then put them in a visual visualization form, and then do it in the video room. Often times it's us, it's just a byproduct of what we're trying to do.
But, yeah, listen, we've had enough numbers out there. I mean, we had 20 players out there today, which was great. I mean, we've been at different periodization schematics, because Union II have been playing on a Monday, we played on a Sunday, and then we were in New England on a Saturday, they played on a Sunday. So guys joining us at different days of the week. In terms of the sports science behind it, Ryan Cotter's done an amazing job, just with the periodization and knowing who's on what level to get up to training speed. Come today, everyone was at the same sort of load and everyone was ready to go for Thursday, Friday, play Saturday.
Q: Is there anything about the personnel that you have for this game that changes your strategy?
A: No, not particularly, like I said, guys are doubling up on opportunity, and we believe we double deep in the positions, and we're excited about. We might have a few surprises here or there. We thought about things in a different way, and we're brave enough as a staff and bold enough to try that, and we're confident in the players to execute it.
Q: What are you looking forward to most from this group this weekend and the opportunity they have ahead against St. Louis City?
The beauty is, no one expects anything, right? Oh, seven players, eight players, away. To me, it's like an admission free, and this is something that we'll speak about as a group. We can go in this game free, right? The first other couple of games we were pushing the needle -- really wanted to do this, really wanted to do that. Now, we have a baseline of what we're trying to do and go out now and execute, but be free. Be brave. There's no wrongs here. The wrong is my game plan, and I'll resume the responsibility. But for the guys, they just have to empty the tank first and foremost and win the 1v1 duels, and then the rest will take care of itself. So, yeah, I'm excited to see that.
