LEHI, Utah. – In their recent trip away from home, Real Salt Lake hit rock bottom in regards to their play, with two of their worst halves played this season, coming in two separate games. More importantly, RSL has only won two of its last eight matches as the Utah side has had to come back from a loss in the CONCACAF Champions League Final, innumerable injuries and international absences.
The 1-1 tie last week against the co-leader of the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia Union, as well as the improved play in the second half has given inspiration to many of the RSL coaching staff, namely head coach, Jason Kreis. “We’re coming back with some real strength, and a really positive feeling about our reaction to difficult circumstances,” said the coach.
The team will play seven of their next ten league games at home, starting with D.C. United visiting Rio Tinto Stadium this Saturday evening. One of the key players for a good result for RSL will be Fabián Espíndola, who has taken sole offensive responsibility for the team during the absences of Álvaro Saborío and Arturo Álvarez in the Gold Cup, and the injury of Paulo Jr. The forward has scored two goals in the last three games.
FutbolMLS: In the last few games, do
you think that the team has come through the soccer woes that it has suffered recently?
F. Espíndola: The poor form is gone, it’s just that we’re missing some important players. In Philadelphia, we can only talk about the second half when we played well. In the first we were fortunate enough not to leave with more goals against us. But it’s true that the team recovered, and we got back into the game.
FutbolMLS: Does that inconsistency in performance
reflect certain insecurities in the staff?
F. Espíndola: No, what’s going on is that there are lots of young guys that don’t have consistency. Also with the pressure of making the most out of the opportunities they’re given and all that it affects their and the team’s game. That doesn’t mean that the young guys don’t have quality, or that they don’t know how to play well.
FutbolMLS: Could the problem be in the
midfield, where the young guys are starting that don’t quite get accustomed,
and coach Jason Kreis doesn’t quite count on any of them in particular, like in
the case of your compatriot and friend Nelson González?
F. Espíndola: They’ve had to take advantage of their opportunities, because later the other guys will come back from their national teams and it’s not going to be easy for them to get playing time. With Nelson, they gave him two games to play, he tried, but it didn’t continue. I don’t want to get involved in the coach’s things, but I think that he (Nelson) showed that he’s capable, but in two games he can’t show everything he’s got; because then he lets it all fall apart in the third game, logically Nelson sits.
FutbolMLS: Personally, they can’t ask much
more of you, assuming all the responsibility in attack, getting two goals in
three games, the last one stealing a valuable point, can they?
F. Espíndola: Thanks to God, things are working out well. As I’ve always said, I work equally hard at all times. Sometimes things go well and other times they don’t. Now, also, they’ve asked for more of a lead roll from me, and things are happening as I could hope, aside from the problems with the team. So I’m happy with that, and I’ll try to keep making the most of the few opportunities presented to me to get them in the goal.
FutbolMLS: Is
Real ready to face-off and take advantage of five of the next seven games at
home?
F. Espíndola: Yeah, definitely. We’ve always been strong here, and we have to keep being strong, especially because we’re missing players. It’s essential to get the most points possible.
FutbolMLS: So
do you see this stretch at home as key to making the playoffs?
F. Espíndola: We have to make the most of these games at home to put ourselves in position for the playoffs, and gain confidence again, because if we don’t, and away we don’t get results, everything gets complicated for the end. Now Will Johnson is coming back, and that helps a lot in the midfield.
FutbolMLS:
Finally, what do you think of the rest of teams, who worries you the most?
F. Espíndola: We’re seeing that everyone’s pretty even. Maybe Los Angeles seems like the team to beat, but they’re also having problems winning games. For the rest of them, I don’t think anyone is stronger. Whoever doesn’t mess up internally, that’d put them out. I think everyone will be pretty even at the end.
[Translator’s Note: Quote by Jason Kreis translated from original Spanish version]
