Midfielder Omir Fernandez
On returning to play after the international break and attitude of locker room
I think we're excited after a little break, I think we all needed a little refresh, just from away the game to refresh our minds, refresh the body. As much as we want a break, we always want to play. We're excited for the next game, obviously, after a loss where we thought we could have gotten a little bit more. Excited to get back out there, especially at home and deliver a good performance and a win.
We're trying to take the positives. It's frustrating for us, especially where we lose games at the last minute off of silly mistakes or giving up silly goals where we shouldn't have. We're happy that we're creating chances, but we're not too happy with conceding too many shots. We're happy that we're getting ourselves into these games against tough opponents. At the end of the day, it's just small mistakes that are gonna make us better for the playoffs when the time comes. We're just trying to harp and get better on that stuff.
On Chris Armas' message coming out of the break following two away losses
He was just excited. You know how Chris is, he's always super emotional. I think he kind of set the tone for this week. For this upcoming game, he was excited just to get back. He's saying, 'As much as I'm on break, I'm thinking about you guys and thinking about the team.' His energy is feeding us and he's just super positive, obviously taking the small steps, but in the film, he's super critical and on the training pitch he's super critical about the stuff that is gonna make us better. So I think we needed that energy from him for sure.
On his evaluation of his performance in the first half of a season with a new team
I'm super critical about the performance. There's been a lot of chances where you pinpoint where I could have scored, or just given an extra pass to get another assist. Obviously, I'm a little bit down on myself and hard on myself with the numbers. That's what people and what the team cares about. But I think with the start, and obviously having an injury in the preseason, I was just trying to acclimate and get a good relationship with everybody. I think it's been really good. I think they all helped me, and obviously having Chris, he's given me so much confidence has helped a lot. And I can feel it. I think it shows in the performances from the recent matches of how much I'm feeling more confident with everybody on the field and just how I'm playing and doing better.
On facing challenges from Austin FC this weekend
We know Austin is a good team, they're ahead of us in the table, they've gotten some good results. But recently we've seen that they've taken some losses as well and there's some weakness as well. For me, I'm going to try to unbalance them as much as I can by making runs. I'm a player that likes combination, so mixing a little bit of both because they're really strong when I come to the ball, and they're kind of weak in behind, so I have to mix it up a little bit and just keep playing my game. I think I'm doing well right now in creating space and creating opportunities for myself, I think I need to keep getting into those spots and having confidence.
Head Coach Chris Armas
On the week ahead after a short international break
Every day these guys remind me here what a privilege it is to be the coach of the Colorado Rapids. I have a great staff, I have a group of players that couldn't be more on board, more together, the energy that they bring every day gives us a lot of energy to do our job. So we come this past week with lots of energy after a little bit of a break physically and mentally with the players. And now it seems to be big focus on Austin, and really, the second part of the year. Although we know it's two out of the next three at home, we really want to focus on one game at a time and really get these performances to turn into points, because we think we do in our right, but we know there's room to improve. And that's where all of our energy is spent in these last days.
On the energy and attitude of the locker room
The energy levels are good, the mentality, the mood is good. The best part about this group is that they enjoy being around each other. The losses hurt, they stick together. The draws, at moments, have hurt because we know we leave things out there. They stick together. They celebrate the wins. But they're a team right now. We're not getting too high or low but the mood is good. You can see their eyes when you're in a video session, they're hungry to become better. They are guys that come to work to learn. We're a work in progress, we're making some. I do believe it four and a half, five months into this. There's real progress made in our team. Its shown in the standings where we were to where we are, where we can maybe be if we're a little better.
On his feelings as Head Coach halfway into the season with a new club
I've fallen in love with this team. I love our fans, the staff. I brought Ian Sarachan in but I've decided to keep this staff with me. They are perfect for me. The people I get to work with every day, players and staff. There's a lot of support staff that don't get mentioned a lot. These guys, let me tell you, they make you want to stay up later at night do the work so we can all feel part of that victory. I feel like I'm in a relationship, I'm in love with this group. I don't tell them that all the time but I show them every day what it means to me. In terms of becoming a real team, in the likeness of a coach that has good reactions, that doesn't give in, that's never ever going away, that's nippy and annoying, we also have quality. Seeing guys come together and heat up, I really like where we're at. That's where I feel right now. I'm very, very tuned in to realizing we have to get better. And that's what every day is about. So, in this early part of this season, my feeling is I think we have a really good team, a tremendous group of young men, an amazing support staff, and it makes me want to be here for a long time and to deliver for our fans and for the players, and everyone else.
On the recent performances and consistent attitude and leadership from Zack Steffen
For me, Zack Steffen has been 150 out of 150 [days performing]. I would say he's probably the most single important signing in the offseason for this team. I can say it wholeheartedly. I do know what I'm looking at. We are not on 22 points and a credible, real team without Zack Steffen. That's what I can say wholeheartedly. It's always going to be, 'Could you make this save? Can you make that save in Vancouver?' No, we lose some. We have seven or eight mishaps before that. Some goals go in, and on the one that's point-blank, he actually does enough where it trickles across. With Zack, I would watch in Mexico day one in preseason like, 'Whoa, we got a really top guy.' When he's in that locker, he commands the respect. Everyone around here revered him not because of where he's been, but what they see every day. Zack has this presence that has helped, that has given us a chance so far. Where does this thing go? Not sure. But if we go [to playoffs] it's because Zack and a few of these other killers that we have. So listen, the team doesn't win. There's statistics out there, expected on the outside, and I've seen some of what's been said. I think it's so on the surface. But to be fair, maybe people on the outside can't look below beneath the surface the way we are seeing. We're so lucky to have Zack Steffen, that's all I can tell you.
On the players away for international duty, depth being utilized in training and this weekend
We know because we've been there as players, some of us coaches, and we also know from some players that get those experiences--national teams, confederation cups, World Cups, Copa Americas--if they come back better for it, good, bad, indifferent, to those experiences, those guys become a little better. For Moïse, this is gonna be really important. Imagine what is he thinking when Mbappe comes in? He's doing almost as good as he could do in that very moment, like, wow, that's gonna make them better. That means that those guys will come back ready to help us out even more, and gives other guys opportunity. Cole will be back tomorrow and Moïse won't for Austin. For this one, we have Michael Edwards and Lalas [Abubakar]. For a guy like Lalas, all of his experience, you can see his level of excitement at the opportunity, what it means to him and for our team. He's an energy guy. He's a winner. Love that these guys get some opportunity in terms of Austin, we know they're close in the standings. They're more than capable. Even in some of the games they've not gotten all the results, they can put games on their terms. They're good in possession, they can press. They have guys that can hurt you. So if we don't bring our best stuff, it'll be a really, really tough night. It's not like a not an odometer, but it's an ongoing oace where we're 17 for 17 tough games, another one's coming Saturday night. That's not a disrespect to our team in our league. This is what it is. For us at this stage of the game, this is what is going to be good. We've got 17 reps at that. We'll be up for it, especially at home in front of fans.
