While the Columbus Crew's 3-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City Saturday was a disappointment, the defeat gave Interim Head Coach Brian Bliss his first opportunity to address the team after a losing performance, and while Robert Warzycha's postgame locker rooms were often sullen in defeat, it seems that Bliss took the opportunity to focus on the team's positives.
“The way we played and the manner in which we played was probably not indicative of the way they want to play and the way that we want them to play,” Bliss said. “But I think there was a combination of critical words, but also some praise in some other areas. I like to sandwich it in there, because the message has got to be positive because we've got to feel good about ourselves, even in times when we lose. It's not always negative.”
Goalkeeper Matt Lampson, whose mistake allowed the third Kansas City goal, said that Bliss is more willing than Warzycha to accept that errors will be a part of the game, and that Bliss puts faith in him and the other younger players.
“One of the biggest differences is that we're not playing not to make a mistake anymore,” Lampson said. “I've always said, 'I'm a young goalkeeper, and I'm going to make mistakes.' Just like all the other homegrowns and young players, we're going to make mistakes, but we'll learn from them, and that's how you get better.”
Lampson said that Bliss addressed the younger players separately to reinforce his confidence in them, even after a loss.
“Bliss talked to me, Wil Trapp and Chad Barson after the game, and he was very positive,” he said. “He knows that we're going to make mistakes, but he knows the caliber player we are, and we know he's okay with us getting better from that. Obviously it's not good to make those mistakes every single game. He knows that games like this are going to happen, and its' really refreshing to have a coach that really has your success in mind. It's very nice to feel.”
On the heels of the first defeat under Bliss will be his first full week of training with the team. A midweek matchup against Houston threw the regular schedule off last week, but Bliss said that he hopes that the team will be on the same page by Saturday's trip to Montreal.
“We're still in an adjustment period, them getting used to me and me getting used to them, and how I like to do things and the types of activities that I like to do,” he said. “I think we've got to be better at competing. Yeah, it's nice if you can play the game of soccer, but if you're not competing, soccer doesn't matter. We’ve got to be able to cement the competing aspect first, and still be able to play soccer. Even if it's your teammate, the teammate is just like an opponent in training.”
Trapp said that the energy in practice is evident, and that the team is working harder while still improving the mental part of their game.
“Guys are working really hard, but with hard work, you have to have smart work as well. And I think [Bliss is] encouraging the mental aspect and the mental toughness a lot, which is key right now,”Trapp said. “As opposed to last week, where we didn't really have much time to formulate a solid week of training because of the game interrupting midweek, I think this week we'll really be able to focus on the guys who will be playing and their movement and their collective pressure. I think it will be good to highlight those things, which were apparently missing in the last game.”
