Seattle Reign FC vs. Bay FC Pre-Match Press Conference • Saturday, September 28, 2024
Head Coach Laura Harvey, Forward Emeri Adames and Defender Jordyn Bugg
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On both the Reign and Bay FC having close games that come down to the final minute and if it’s something they should expect tomorrow:
“I hope not. I mean, listen, I think the reason why Bay and us, probably, and whatever, I think you see it across the league is, any team can score at any time in any way, and we have multiple threats to be able to do that across the field. So, I think Bay have that, I think we have that. I think our game against them early in the season was a barnstormer. I still stand by that we had a goal disallowed that shouldn’t have been. Obviously, I hope it’s easy. Everything that’s going on, we have to prepare that we have to see it out to the end of the game and do whatever is necessary to get three points.”
On what she saw from Adames and Bugg at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia:
“Oh, they add quality first and foremost. I think Jordyn showed what we knew about her already at the World Cup. I think she showed it when she had a game against North Carolina, too, and Emeri, the same – has unbelievable ability on the ball, can serve balls into the box, can take a good set piece. Emeri has quality everywhere. I just truly believe that they’re development is never going to be hit in a negative way by going to things like that. So, obviously it was challenging not having them here, but I think off the back of it, we’ll reap the reward of them going there for years.”
On what needs to click more in this match against Bay FC:
“Well, look, we had enough chances to win [against Houston]. We had enough clear-cut chances to beat Houston and we got beat by an unbelievable goal, but we had way better chances than they had to score goals. So, we have to be mindful of that, like we created. Did we create as much as we’ve created in other games? Maybe not. But we created enough chances to win the game and that’s reality. So, I don’t think in this league you can ever expect that you’re just going to constantly get a multitude of chances, you’ve got to earn that, but I think we’ve got to continue to move the ball, control the game, work the opponent so that we can create these opportunities and earn the right to create them. I think that’s a big key to it as well.”
On Jess Fishlock and Jordyn Huitema’s availability:
“Yeah, Jordyn’s back. Jordyn’s fine. Jess is still not available, unfortunately. I don’t really have a timeline on that right now. But yeah, it’s been a bit frustrating with Jess. Obviously, she is a big loss to our team and we hope we can get her fit and healthy as soon as possible.”
On how important it is to have Lauren Barnes back in the starting lineup after suffering an injury earlier this season:
“Yeah, I think it’s been challenging. I’m not going to shy away from that. I think for a multitude of reasons – injuries, the roster movement, it’s been tough, and I think that having someone with her experience helps to be able to solidify that and alleviate that a little bit. But I think for Lu (Lauren Barnes) right now, it’s about making sure that she can continue to push herself and keep herself healthy. That has to be her number one priority, and we have to lean on other people around the group to help her with those leadership qualities that we all know she has.”
Forward Emeri Adames and Defender Jordyn Bugg
On their experience at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia:
Emeri Adames: “I mean, for me personally, it was a great experience. It was so different from the last World Cup that we went to. This group was so close and we were so much like a family. We just had so much fun the whole time and I think you could see that on the field and it transferred really well. We just really loved each other so much and we had each other’s back the whole time, so I think that really showed in our performance and how far we got.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I thought it was a great experience for all of us because I mean, like she said, this group was really close and we wanted to go as far as we could. I think that showed on the field and we just had fun with it.”
On the challenge of going from the international tournament back to regular season play:
Emeri Adames: “I don’t know, for me personally, it was good because I feel like I’m in game shape. I feel like I’m ready, and I’m kind of still on a little bit of a high from that win and that tournament. So, it makes me want to be like, we can do this, let’s just keep going, let’s keep getting the wins and it’s totally a possibility and we can really just push to get that.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I think just coming back from my experience in the tournament and wanting to make it to the final, I think bringing that motivation back here to try to make playoffs is what really motivates us.”
On how their time with the Reign helped them prepare for the World Cup:
Emeri Adames: “I mean, I think it’s great. One of my biggest takeaways is playing against older players and always doing that because at the World Cup, we were playing two years up, but it felt kind of the same since we play against older players all the time. So, I think that was really good. And then just the recovery aspect – playing that many games in one month was a lot and just knowing the recovery that we have to do and taking it seriously really helps me a lot.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I just think, also playing the older players, like the practices and trainings here are always super intense, and I think that carries over to playing at the youth camps. I mean, we were playing two years up, so I think the intensity was similar. So, I think training here was good practice for there.”
On how they are feeling after playing all those games at the World Cup:
Emeri Adames: “I’m feeling good. Like I said, I feel in top shape and back elevation. Elevation over there was really difficult. It was really hard. And then we come back here – zero elevation, beautiful weather – personally, I’m feeling great.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I’m feeling great, too. It took a few days to get basically feeling recovered. But I think since being back here, I’m feeling really good, especially taking all the recovery seriously. So, I think that I’m ready for what’s to come.”
On how it felt watching the Reign games from afar:
Emeri Adames: “Yeah, it was definitely weird. But it was fun because a bunch of the girls there play with the NWSL, so we would all talk about our games. We would kind of talk smack a little bit. We’re like, ‘Oh, we’re going to win today, can’t wait to watch the game.’ So, it was definitely different and weird not being there with a team, obviously we want to be there, but it was fun to just see them play and see them do good.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I mean, it was different, but I liked being able to cheer them on from afar. It was good that we could do that, and I mean there were a lot of other girls there that are also in the NWSL doing the same thing. So, I think we kind of felt connected through that. So, it was different, but it was good.”
On the threats Bay FC presents this weekend:
Emeri Adames: “Obviously, Bay is a good team. We know that. We know coming into it. But I think last time we played them, we definitely could have beat them. We definitely had our opportunities. I think we’ll just have a good game, we’ve been having a good week of practices, and I think we have the motivation to just really get the win.”
Jordyn Bugg: “I mean, like [Emeri] said, we know Bay is a good opponent, but I think that we’re coming into it knowing that we could win. I think we just have to stay motivated and persevere through all the challenges through the game and just capitalize in the moment.”