An open computer sat atop a foldout table in a quiet room at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The team’s backdrop, well-worn from the season, was cast to the side and the room normally flanked with reporters stood barren with the exception of the club’s videographer, a PR representative and Damir Kreilach.
Before the first reporter could even ask a question, Kreilach began talking.
“It’s hard to find the words," Kreilach said. "I’m disappointed this year, and frustrated as well. But I mean first of all, I want to apologize to the fans in the name of the team, because we didn’t reach what we wanted this year."
The team had just suffered a 2-1 road defeat to the LA Galaxy in its second-to-last match of the season, officially eliminating Real Salt Lake from playoff contention and the dissatisfaction was palpable. The Croatian midfielder sat with sunken shoulders and tried to field questions on a disappointing match.
It’s the first 15 seconds of the press conference that are of the utmost significance -- “I want to apologize to the fans.”
In a year that disrupted and upended everyone and everything, it became abundantly clear for Kreilach that as athletes there are only three things that matter; family, club and fans.
For the first time in his professional career he scored goals in empty stadiums and celebrated wins without the cheers of supporters, a surprisingly critical part to on-field success. In 2019, RSL posted the best home record in the league, in large part due to the fortress created by the dedicated fans who create the atmosphere each week at Rio Tinto Stadium, an extra opponent to combat for any visiting squad.
“At the end of the day you play for yourself and your teammates, but we also play because of the fans,” Kreilach said. “It’s what we missed most this past year.In my first two years we were one of the best teams at home and it's because when we look up into the stands we want to give our all, to win every game and to make the fans happy.”
Kreilach joined RSL just before preseason in 2018, marking just the third club in the midfielder’s decade-long career. Loyalty to club and fans is an important pillar for the veteran and is clearly evident through the way in which the supporters of each club have both celebrated and mourned the loss of their hero when he has moved to another club.
Within weeks of his touchdown in Salt Lake City, it was easy to see why fans in Germany and Croatia had such a hard time saying goodbye.
“Coming here was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career,” Kreilach said. “From the first day I’ve been welcomed in a very special way and that’s something you never forget.”
Dami, as he is known in and around the club, is the kind of guy a front office dreams of signing, someone with talent who also understands the role of the community. But he is also the kind of player fans want on their team, someone who takes the time to appreciate supporters’ contributions and who values their role in the team’s success.
Kreilach is now entering into his fourth season with the club with a new contract that will carry him through the 2022 season with an option for 2023. After three successful years with RSL the midfielder was highly-touted by other clubs who actively tried to lure him away from Utah, but as Kreilach recounts, the decision was a no-brainer, Salt Lake City and its people are like home and right now there is unfinished business to take care of.
“One of the easiest decisions I’ve made,” Kreilach said. “And now it’s time to work hard and play to win something for the fans.”
