Real Monarchs 2 vs. 1 Colorado Rapids 2
September 18, 2022; Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah
Real Monarchs (6-14-4, 23 points); Colorado Rapids 2 (7-11-6, 31 points)
Head Coach Jamison Olave
Thoughts on the fight from the team in the win:
“I think tonight, the first half we got a lead but the team was kind of flat. I don’t know why. It could be because it’s a Sunday game, the quality of the other team, but they were flat. The good thing is that we got to halftime with the lead and we could adjust. When the team came out for the second half, that was way better. We conceded, but we have the personality to go and get the lead again and won the game.”
On what changed from the start of the season to now:
“Definitely the mentality of the players, I would say, got better. The mentality was there. Since the first game we tried to fight, we tried to compete, we tried to play good soccer. But the consistency of having the same group, the consistency of training with the same players, having the opportunity to play the same XI a couple of times, having good players on the bench to come in and impact the game. I have no question about that, that changed how we ended the season.”
On preparing for next year:
“Now we have decisions to make: who’s going to stay and who’s going to leave. And then who’s coming? The season is done. I think the players did a really good season, good moments, bad moments. But now, like I said before, is the time to take decisions. Start thinking who’s coming to help us because next season for sure we need to do better.”
Midfielder Pedro Fonseca
Thoughts on the win and scoring:
“We knew it was a tough game. It was a battle for 90 minutes and we knew that it would be rough, but we could get one chance to put one in, and we capitalized on that chance. I stayed on the ball because it kind of seemed like it was coming to me, so I was able to score that goal and win those three points.”
On what changed from the beginning of the season to now:
“I believe we were able to really have a strong team. We were able to bring a great group of guys together. If I’m not mistaken, we were not able to keep the same lineup for the first five, six, seven games—every game we were changing it. For the rest of the season, from the middle to the end, we were able to keep the same group and that was very helpful for us since we were able to build more chemistry and get better results, and that’s the most important thing.”
On the incoming offseason:
“Of course, the momentum is really good, so the taste in our mouths is not the best, it’s a little bit bitter. I wish we had more games to fight for playoffs and maybe even get that trophy, but I also think that this is a lesson for everyone that we need to start the season well, but we’ll see what comes next. I’m excited.”
Midfielder Tyrone Mondi
Overall thoughts on the match:
“I think the guys worked really hard in the second half of the season since we played Chelsea and Wolves, and I think we’ve built on that. Today was really difficult playing at 5. I know it’s not an excuse because they played in the same conditions, but it was pretty difficult. In the first half, we had trouble pressing them, but in the second half, we managed how we pressed them. The pressure, the way we wanted to force them, looking for them to make mistakes. I think in the second half we fixed that, but overall that wasn’t the prettiest. We had to grind out the result, and sometimes as a team you have to do that. It’s not always going to be pretty, it’s not always going to be the best football on the day, but I think it’s credit to the guys that we were able to grind out the result.
On the difference between now and the beginning of the season
“I think first it is credit to the guys who came in. In the beginning, we had academy players, and they played their part. Credit also to the management of the team, signing players that could come in and help us. Both academy guys contributing, whether it was in games or in training, with that and the new guys like Golden [Mafwenta], [Aziz] Kayondo, Benji [Benjamin Rodriguez], and Gennaro [Nigro] later in the season, they were good additions to the team. We had some personality and a little bit of experience, a little bit of older guys that could help us through the season. That changed a lot of the mentality within the group. I think I said this in a few interviews ago, it was all about the details. In the training sessions, we always focus on the details.”
