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HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On how the preseason went for the team …
“Excellent. The attitude of the players has been spot on since day one, the atmosphere within the group has been excellent and that commitment to everything that we’ve asked of them has been first class. Been really pleased with the way we played, but the game against Orlando I thought there was large parts of the game where I thought we were outstanding we’re outstanding – some of our play, you know – you know we’re going to need all that on the weekend.”
On how the newer players have assimilated into the group …
“Terrific, you know, we’ve got people like Juan Agudelo, Niko Hansen and Callum Montgomery have been in the league a long time. They’ve come in and hit the ground running. They know most of the players anyway, a lot of the players anyway, they’re either friends or they’ve played with them or against them throughout their career. The integration of the players has been terrific and I sense there’s a great deal of optimism within the group, which is important.”
On how the team is preparing to go play in Seattle …
“Well, it’s never an easy place to go play. As away games go on the opening day, it couldn’t be much tougher. Terrific club. Well coached. I’ve had a lot of time for their staff, we got on really well. We stay in touch. Four finals in five years, says everything you need to know about Seattle. They’ve got quality players. Good DPs. So, we know it’s going to be really tough this weekend. But I think Schmetz (Brian Schmetzer) is sensible enough and smart enough to know that we aren’t going to come there to make up the numbers this weekend.”
MIDFIELDER JAN GREGUS
On the team’s confidence level going into the season …
“Maybe we’ll see after a few games. It’s hard to say at the start of the season. We feel good right now. We’re in a good position, I think, physically and everything. We’ve prepared well in Orlando, so we will see after a few games.”
On how the group looks with new additions …
“Well, first of all, I think this group has amazing quality and everyone – if it’s a new one or older ones – they all have quality. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. So that’s the main point.”
On heading back to Seattle and if there’s any unfinished business …
“Exactly. That’s how we feel. With the way it ended last season, we have something to prove to ourselves and to them as well. So, hopefully, it will go our way this time.”
MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On preseason …
“Pretty successful preseason. I think we were disappointed to lose the game against Orlando as the last day of preseason. But we played some really good stuff. I think we look at some of the goals we had and it probably was more indicative of being away for 17, 18 days and knowing we were going home, and maybe our training thought and focus wasn’t quite there on our final day. But a lot of good things this preseason. Had a lot of quality. I think every year you’re trying to get better. And I think you can evaluate that at the end of preseason and see where your team is at. I look at our team and we got a little bit younger in certain spots. We continue to add great depth.”
On the group / team this year …
“Across the board, just about every position, we’re at least two or three deep, and I think we’ve added some players now who can play multiple positions. There’s just a lot of versatility, I think, to our group. We still haven’t seen a full 34 game season of Rey, we only saw about 12 games in the year, so really excited for that. I’m really happy with the group, where we’re at. You’re always trying to be a part of a competitive team every year. That’s why we do it, try to win trophies and to compete and I think we’re a really competitive team this year.”
On unfinished business against Seattle …
“No, I don’t, this is the 2021 season, that was the 2020 season. For me this is the start of a new season. This is week one of a new season: it’s a different team for us, it’s a different team for them, but it’s always a great place to play. The environment I think will be great, we’re happy to welcome fans back in the stadiums, so I think everyone is excited about that. But for me, there’s nothing left over because there’s still another game, there’s still what ifs and we didn’t get it done there and that was obviously extremely disappointing and you hope that some of those scores will motivate guys who were there to go get three points and start our season off with a winning streak.”
