Sporting Kansas City coach Raphael Wicky don talk say im team no show up like dem suppose for dia match against Nashville, especially for first half. E say before you talk about opponent, you must first look at yourself, and today, for first half, dem bin dey miles away from Nashville.
Wicky talk say for plenty moments, Sporting KC defend no be like the way dem defend for last two and a half or three months. Im words: ‘We defended like kids. We defended like a very immature team.’ E explain say the goals dem concede come from crosses inside box where bodies dey around but nobody touch opposition and nobody dey in body contact with somebody. E say that no good enough against team wey dey fly, wey get very good roster, very good style of play and big confidence.
According to Wicky, you can be less good than another team, but you still have to compete better. E say na that one e tell players at halftime and after match. But e also feel say the game no show who Sporting KC don be for last two or two and a half months with the progress dem make. E say today, Nashville simply much better than dem. Sporting KC no dey dia best and first half like that happen.
Wicky say e happy with second half. E talk say if dem no concede penalty at the end, second half feel much better. But e add say Nashville also get some chances and Sporting KC give away way too many easy balls today, things dem no do for last two and a half or three months.
On Nashville, Wicky no hide words. E say Nashville na team wey dey fly. Dia roster deep and very good. E say dem dey healthy quite often, and dia team and best players always available, which make big difference for the league. E point to consistency wey B.J. Callaghan don do for the club over last two seasons. Wicky believe the roster no just build from one month to another; e probably build over few periods. E congratulate Nashville.
On defense, Wicky say no be one reason. Today e make five changes. That change dynamic and change relationships small. E say players wey no play for a while enter, very young players and very inexperienced players. But e still call am opportunity for dem. After dem concede first and second, at one point dem start small like back in March or April when dem begin lose shape. Dem start to chase and stop sticking to plan and being compact. Wicky say maturity, experience and leadership all join together for that one.
E say e pleased say for second half dem way more disciplined and stick more to plan than first half. E call am mix of everything.
On Andre Luiz coming out at halftime, Wicky say na managing minutes. E say Andre body don give signals for few games say e very tired. For last game e had to come out, and for previous games before e also get something. Multiple times now e give signals. So for Wicky, e clear say e go sub am at halftime no matter the result. E want Andre on field because e important for am to get minutes, but e always plan to take am out at halftime.
E say similar thing with Zorhan Bassong. Zorhan still dey on minutes restriction. E dey come back inside three-game week, so e take the two out. The subs na planned subs.
On roster rotation, Wicky say Justin Reynolds out. That make am put Ian James as right back. Emir Karic body don give signals in recent weeks say e too much for am right now, so e give am rest. Wicky say Stephen Afrifa and Taylor Calheira don do great job. Dem play plenty minutes. E talk say dem rarely play that many minutes for MLS and dem feel say dem need fresh legs up front because for last game Ruben Ramos Jr. and Seymour Reid come in and bring plenty energy. Na why you get these players, to give dem chances, opportunities and rotate.
With Calvin Harris, na same thing. Calvin don play so many minutes this year. E always get big output and sometimes small problem with knee, especially when games congested. So dem talk say make dem rest some guys and give opportunities to other guys. Na how dem take get five changes, which Wicky agree say plenty, but certain changes na must do. E say with Emir and Justin, e had to change dem.
Sporting KC midfielder Jake Davis also talk after match. E say Nashville na number one team for East for reason. Dem get plenty quality. Dem like to attack and dem stick to dia style whole game. Davis say Sporting KC definitely fit compete more and manage game, but Nashville better than dem today and nobody need make more or less of am. E say dem lose, Nashville better team today, and now important to move on and focus on home game and getting result against Salt Lake.
On Andre Luiz importance, Davis no lie. E say everybody dey rave about Andre, but for end, e truly dey make difference for the team. For last 5-7 games, e don be deciding factor to getting results and keeping dem in game, along with plenty other quality performances from the group. Davis say having Andre come in don make team better and bring out best in players wey already dey. E say tonight no excuses. Maybe na fatigue. Maybe Nashville out-compete dem. But e no dey try compare this result to performances from before. E say dem still need to be confident. Dem still play good soccer. Today Nashville better, but e no think say that take anything away from wetin dem do for last month.
Davis say e exciting to get player like Andre, but e even more exciting no be just the quality e bring on attack, but e bring out plenty good qualities in the team. Going forward, e believe dem go get more identity with am and strategy, so only good things dey come.
On final five games of season, Davis say the question dey think way forward. Right now, im mind dey on beating Salt Lake. E say dem need focus on everything dem can give this weekend. Today result sting small. But e sit down and see the quality the group don show for last couple weeks and e dey excited for Saturday. E say dem go out, be strong, bring dia quality and put on good performance for fans and beat Salt Lake. E repeat say right now e dey think about next week against Salt Lake.
