Joshua Gatt joined the Colorado Rapids from Minnesota United FC at the end of March. Aged just 25, Gatt has been through a great deal, during which time he has played for the USA at senior level and shone under a Manchester United legend in Norway. Richard Fleming spoke with Gatt, who is just about catching his breath after a hectic few months.
Richard Fleming: It’s been a heck of a journey for you, at the age of 25, and you’ve now landed here in Colorado. I imagine the last week has been a whirlwind experience. Take us through that.
Joshua Gatt: The last week has been pretty chaotic. Friday (March 31) I get pulled out of training in Minnesota, telling me - without any real heads-up - that I’m moving to Colorado, so I had to plan with Colorado, get on a plane to be here Sunday and get here for training, but not only that, just plan on moving our lives again from Minnesota to Colorado. It isn’t the first move we’ve had to do this year. Earlier this year, in January, we had to move from Norway to Minnesota, so it’s been a lot of moving, but it’s nothing we’re not used to. We’re considered professional packers now, me and my wife (laughs), and we’re really happy to be here. I think this is a very great place for me to be, I think I can really fit in well here and I’m really loving the atmosphere and the vibe I’m getting from just everything about the stadium, the people, the facilities, just everyone, it’s been great.
RF: You’ve just been doing a TV interview, and I heard you talk about ‘this is a very defensive, solid side’. You’re brought in as a forward, and we know that the Rapids struggled to score – defensively solid – but struggled to score in 2016. Do you then think, ‘well, ok, I’m a forward, I’m there to score goals, this is a chance’?
JG: Absolutely. I think the way the Rapids play really suits my style of football. When I was playing in Molde in Norway we were a similar structure, I think. We were defensively a pretty solid team, and we created a lot of our chances off counter and speed, and that’s where I came in. I stayed more high and I was able to break teams down with long balls over the top, and getting us up the field and creating chances that way, and I think - based on the way the Rapids play - I could do the same sort of thing, be an outlet for speed to really try and stretch other teams, make them worried about us in behind, and then also because of me running, maybe create space for other guys to work, in between or below, (and) really get us moving as a team and really get us going, because my goal is just to really get behind teams and cause as much problems as I can and I think that’s what they’re looking for me to do here.
RF: You played in Norway, and you played under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. What did you learn from - a great international player, but obviously a fantastic player for Manchester United?
JG: He was an amazing coach. The amount I learned from him, tactically, about the game, is incredible. From what I understand I was miles behind when I first started with him, and he really brought me up to speed when it came to the tactics of the game, and the understanding and reading the game. He’s a fantastic coach and a fantastic person. He was a huge, huge mentor for me in my career, and I’m very grateful to have played under him for as many years as I have, and I’m just going to take everything that he’s taught me into my future experience here with Colorado.
RF: There’s a big smile on your face, but you’ve been through some struggles (three ACL injuries). Does that show the strength of your character, that you’re still here after all you’ve gone through?
JG: You can say that. Absolutely, I won’t discredit the fact that I have a strong character, because I think that I do, but - you know - life happens to everyone. Everybody goes through down periods in life. I’ve barely met one person who’s ever just had a very clean and easy life throughout their whole time. Everybody faces obstacles. Mine were physical injuries, and you get to that point where you have to make a decision. It’s either you let the negatives take you down and dictate where your life goes, or you can rise above it, fight through it, and decide where you want to take your life. And that’s the option I chose. I fought through, and I decided that I wanted to take my life as a soccer player and continue to do it.
RF: And where is Joshua Gatt now in terms of fitness and readiness and drive and desire and all of that?
JG: I am as hungry as ever. I’ve been chomping at the bit this year to get some minutes. It wasn’t working out where I was, and I am as energetic, I am as in-shape, and I am as ready to go as I’ve ever been. I’m primed and ready for the season. I’m ready to give 110 per cent for however long I’m playing - this weekend and beyond. I plan on using all my minutes, completely and totally, to the best of my ability.
