Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. SD) • Thursday, July 27, 2023
OL Reign Pre-Match Press Conference • Thursday, July 27
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Midfielder Marley Canales
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On how the team looks following the break:
“I think the squad looks great, trainings have been really sharp, very eager to go out and try and put a good performance together tomorrow to solidify top of the group. I expect what I always expect from them – well-organized, solid defensively, going to be difficult to break down and a threat. So, I think it’s always a good matchup when we play each other and our group is in a really good place. Like I said, I think training has been really good this week. I think the break came at a good time for us, we needed it.”
On the overall health and fitness of the team with forward Tziarra King being ruled out for the last game:
“Yeah, (Tziarra King) Zee’s fully back. The only person who is questionable and probably not going to be involved is (midfielder) Jess (Fishlock).”
On how the break was for and if she noticed any changes from the team when everyone returned:
“I mean, personally, it was great. Did I take a break? I mean, took a break from being around everybody every day, but I don’t think you ever truly get vacation time in this job, it’s 24/7, 365 days of the year, which I love that, I think it’s great. But, I think what the breaks give you is, it gives you an opportunity to refresh, for the players especially to switch off. From a staff perspective, I think it gives you time to delve into areas that you maybe don’t have time to do when it’s game after game after game. It’s no secret we were one of two teams that have played the most, we traveled the most, so that takes it’s toll. I think that this league is brutal in regard to that stuff, so being able to give players a little bit of a mental, physical break is great. Obviously, we didn’t have a game last week when some other teams came back and had a game pretty quickly, so we’ve also had some extended training time, which has also been nice.”
On forward Megan Rapinoe announcing her retirement and her feelings around that:
“There’s a lot you can say about (Megan Rapinoe) Pinoe, really. She’s an icon. She’s talented. She’s committed. When I think about this club, she’s committed, been committed to it for so long. She’s hilarious. We miss her every day, currently, and to think that we haven’t got much longer with her around the locker room is sad, really. The game will 100 percent miss her. She has evolved the sport in ways that were probably unimaginable. When I first met her, I told this story the other day, I remember meeting her face to face for the first time and that person that I met in 2013, she is the same person – she obviously got older and wiser and all the things that you do when you’ve known each other for 10 years, but she’s never changed who she is. It’s been such a pleasure to see her every day be that. She got thrown into the limelight, probably in more ways than we ever expected around 2016 when she chose to kneel and even then, never changed, was exactly the same every day and then obviously I didn’t work at the club for a couple of years around 2019, around the last World Cup, but to think of the stardom that she’s now got off the back of all of those things of who she is, she’s still exactly the same. That’s what I think we’ll probably miss the most is, just the person, really. I could talk about her all day, really. She’s an exceptional talent. She’s been phenomenal for this club. She’s obviously an all-American hero and I truly hope, for multiple reasons, that she can get everything that she deserves, and sport often is cruel and doesn’t give you that, but I truly hope that she can come away with a World Cup, (NWSL) Shield and a Championship because she deserves it.”
On forward Veronica Latsko staying through 2024:
“Obviously really happy that we can keep her around. I think she’s found a place that she’s really happy at. She lives really close to where I live, actually. I know she loves living there and she’s very happy in the environment, which I think is a big part for me, knowing that a player is super happy and comfortable where we are and what we’re doing and then on the field, I think she’s consistent, she’s hardworking, she’s constantly wanting to learn and evolve, so she’s super coachable and she’s an excellent team player. So yeah, really happy to have kept her around for another year.”
On midfielder Rose Lavelle and being available to play for the USWNT and if she kept her from playing in OL Reign games to be available for the tournament:
“I want the U.S. to do really well in the World Cup, but I’m not that nice. No, we didn’t hold her out of anything. We truly wanted her to play for us. She wanted to play for us, it just didn’t happen. I think the recovery from the injury was just longer and more, sort of, complicated and detailed than anyone expected. So no, there was never a plan to hold her out just for the World Cup. But, obviously so happy that she’s finally healthy and back playing again because she has shown, again on the world stage, that she can impact games at the highest level.”
On how she feels about OL Reign’s players in the World Cup and the playing time they’ve had:
“I think that the World Cup is the World Cup – the teams are the teams, the coaches are going to do what they feel is right for their team. Obviously, I’m cheering them all on and want to see them all do well and want them to succeed, there’s no secret behind that. But I also want them to come back healthy and ready to go for us too, so I want them to – it’s sort of like that double-edged sword. Yeah, I want them to get every minute they can and all go and be successful and they all can’t win the World Cup, but it’s no secret I want the U.S. to win it, but I also want them to come back and be super healthy and be able to kick on for us when they come back too. So, the less they play, arguably, is better for us, but I also obviously want them do really well in the World Cup because it’s every player’s dream.”
On if OL Reign considered making any roster moves during the league’s transfer window:
“I think, obviously, our biggest issue to date has been health. I think not having Pinoe, Rose, Jess, (defender) Phoebe (McClernon), (midfielder) Angelina) for big chunks of the season have been our biggest impactor, but I think we believe when everyone is fit and healthy, which Jess is the only one, really, coming back from anything, we feel that we’re stronger and we’ve got depth in every position to compete. If that wasn’t the case, we would’ve definitely tried to make moves, but I think we feel pretty good and confident with the group that we have. We made very specific moves in the offseason to try and make sure we were set up for this period during the World Cup and have the squad to compete all year round. Last year, we obviously made moves in this period that we, some were short term, obviously Kim (Little) and thenTobin (Heath) and (forward) Jordyn (Huitema) were more of a longer-term acquisition whereas this year, all of our moves were made in the offseason. So yeah, unless health and fitness came into play, I don’t think we would’ve made a move, no.”
Midfielder Marley Canales
On how the team is looking after the break:
“I think a lot of people are just excited to be back – all good vibes. I think that the break was good mentally and physically and I think people came back ready to go. We know that the first half of the season is done and now it’s time to look towards the second half. It was a really great refresher and I think we came out flying and honestly, just really happy to be back on the ball, back on the field. So, the team’s looking really good, sharp and we’re super excited to get back out there tomorrow.”
On the challenges San Diego will bring tomorrow:
“I think the most obvious one is their aerial presence. I think that that has been a key factor for them and something that every team around the league now knows – something that they look for that they’re very dominant in. So, I think that we have our own group of players and people that can challenge aerially as well, so I think that’s going to be a battle and they like to play football as well. They have a great coach, likes to get the ball down and play and then get in behind the line whenever they can. So, it’s going to be a good game tomorrow and I feel like we always rise to the challenge to play them.”
On the second half of the season and what will be the most important part to focus on:
“I think it’s going to be interesting just because obviously right now we don’t have the World Cup players so right now it’s this group and then World Cup players are going to be trickling back towards the end of this season, so it’s kind of just going to be how can we get everyone back in, mesh together again and play the style of play that we like to present on the field, which I think is a beautiful style, so I think that’s going to kind of be something that we’re going to keep an eye on and I know the coaching staff is going to monitor really closely and obviously the health and the mindset of the players coming back from the World Cup. But I think the group that we have right now, we know that we want to do our very best while the players are in the World Cup and gone, so we want to hold up our end of the deal and I think that that’s going to be the most interesting part for numerous teams across the league is, how do you get the players back in and just hit the floor running?”
On if she took a complete break during the break and if she’s been watching the World Cup:
“I think football is just engraved in me and it’s a part of my life, whether I’m on the field training or if I’m at home watching games. I definitely spent time with family, but I got my fair amount of touches on the ball. This is my job and this is something I love and wanted to stay sharp, for sure. Yeah, I think the World Cup has been a lot so far. I think it’s exciting to see the coverage that women’s soccer is getting and deserves. So, our team, we had a great watch party yesterday and supporting all our players on all the different countries, so I think it’s been exciting and it just goes to show that anyone can show up on any day, much like the NWSL. As you guys have seen, you can really never predict anything. So, I think that it’s been exciting and we’re for sure going to keep track of all our players in the World Cup and all the crazy games that are going to come.”
On the mentality of the team going into all of the different competitions and having to compete in all of them:
“I think that we’re aware of the current situation with Challenge Cup games and whether it’s, like you mentioned, Women’s Cup last year, Challenge Cup games this year or league, we keep the level the exact same and like I said, this is our job, we want to come out and perform and prove why we deserve to be in this league, on the field. I know that we could clinch [the West division] tomorrow, but like I said, we treat every game the same and while the World Cup players are gone, we want to make sure that we are taking care of our business here so when they come back, we’re ready to keep going with them. But yeah, the team’s really excited and I think our team kind of gets a little antsy when we’ve just been training, training, back from our break. So, we’re very excited to finally put a show on tomorrow and be back on the field.”
On her goals for the season and how she would rate how she has been doing on them:
“I think that, now, this is my second year in the league, second year on this team and I have a good understanding of the kind of style that is expected from me and that this team likes to put on. I think that this is a great learning environment for me, whether that’s from the coaching staff or the players that I’m surrounded by every day. I am very passionate about this job, my love for this sport and I know that any opportunity I get is an opportunity to prove and show everything I’ve been working on. I am a very driven individual and I know that there are speed bumps, there are ups and downs in seasons and careers and every day I just try to come out and continually show and prove to myself, first and foremost, and to this club why I am passionate to be here and play my role, whatever that role is, I want to make sure that I am helping my team and my teammates that I’m surrounded by. So whatever that role is, I take it very serious and I think that so far, so good. But, there’s a lot of football to be played, so I’m excited for that.”
On if San Diego’s recent struggles on the field changes her mentality ahead of the game:
“No, not really. They have a couple players away as well, but like I said, for World Cup games and games in the NWSL, you can never predict anything and this league top to bottom is pure class and I know that that’s also the case for San Diego, regardless of what the score line shows. So, we know that they’re going to come out with an absolute fight against us. It’s hard to come into Lumen and we’re coming off our break and we’ve been prepping, so it doesn’t change our mindset or anything, we know that they’re going to give us their best fight and I think we’re going to be up for it. So no, we know that they’re a quality opponent. I think we’re ready.”
On if the team discussed the recent loss to Orlando when the team returned from the break:
“I think that there’s, whether it’s a win or a loss, you can take things away and I think that that’s what we did. We were able to address some of the things that we want to improve on and I think that’s from an individual standpoint and as a team collective and that’s exactly what we did. We’re watching things, we’re learning things, we’re applying it out on the field. So, whether it’s a win or a loss, we’re going to learn every time and I think that’s what we’ve done, so I think we’re excited to kind of portray that and get back to our great quality on the field.”
Download here: Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. SD) • Thursday, July 27, 2023