VANCOUVER, BC – And that’s a wrap.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC held their end-of-season media availability Tuesday at the University of British Columbia after a season in which they set a club record for points, qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, defended their Cascadia Cup title, and secured a berth in the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League.
While their season ended in heartbreaking fashion last week against FC Dallas, the general tone was that there’s a lot to build on in 2015.
Among the topics discussed on Tuesday were the future of Matias Laba, Andy O’Brien, Mauro Rosales and Sebastian Fernandez, the MLS Expansion Draft, and potential offseason acquisitions.
Watch the full interviews below or read the written summaries.
CARL ROBINSON:
Thoughts on the season:
“I think it’s a very good start for us … there were a lot of positives. But we’re disappointed in there because we feel we could have gotten a little bit further and we know we’re not far away. We know we’ve probably got to get at least 50 points every year now to compete and get into the playoffs. With two new teams coming into our conference, it’s going to be even more difficult. We’re going to need to improve in certain areas, including myself, and we will.”
On the most challenging aspect of the job:
“Probably trying to get the boys to be more consistent … you guys and ladies mentioned to me that we were going to have a drop in the summer months and I sort of turned a blind eye to it. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen next year. We’re involved in a number of competitions. The good thing is that I log everything in my black books. I know what we did on June 7 of last year in training and I know what we did in the preparation up to the game. I’ll analyze that to make sure that doesn’t happen again next year.”
On the decisions that need to be made in the offseason:
“Very difficult, but that’s a sign of a good team and a good squad. I do have some decisions to make but it will be for the benefit of the team and the club moving forward. They’re never easy. I have to put the personal side to one side to do that. But I’ll do it with honesty like I’ve done all along. There are tough decisions to be made, there will be changes, there will be additions because I want to strengthen the squad. I feel that if we’re going to compete and try to get a home playoff game then we’re going to need to do that. And that will happen.”
On Andy O’Brien:
“I think he’s been fantastic this year. He’s got stronger as the year has gone on. I’ll sit down with Andy this week and I’ll tell him what my view is. I’d like to try to keep Andy in some capacity if I can because I think he’s a very good leader. Obviously, because we’re in a salary cap league it depends on the financial side of it as well.”
On Mauro Rosales:
“Like Andy, I’ll be sitting down with Mauro and having a good conversation with him. He’s been excellent for me since we traded for him. I think in the last game especially, in my view he was the best player on the park. He’s got a lot to bring to the table. Again, it’s a financial decision as well but I’ll be doing everything I can to try and keep Mauro at the club.”
On potentially extending Sebastian Fernandez’s loan:
“It’s something I want to try and do. Seba has been excellent for me this year. I think he can get better. I think some games he’s drifted in and out. Especially at home, he’s been excellent the last few months. Again, it depends on figures, it depends on agents, it depends on clubs and what they want. I’ve had three or four conversations over the last week about Seba’s situation. We’ll try and nail that down this week because I need to know one or way or another.”
On the status of Matias Laba:
“There’s a fee agreed [with Toronto FC] to take Matias Laba and we will be doing that because he’s been fantastic for us and a big part of this club moving forward. It will be settled and Mati will be coming back next year.”
PEDRO MORALES:
Thoughts on the season:
“It was a good season for the team. Maybe this year it’s possible to get more points. In some games, we didn’t play very well. In Dallas, we didn’t play very well in the first half. But it was a very good experience for me this year in MLS. I feel very good about the team, my coach, my teammates and next year is a good opportunity for us to have another good season.”
On getting a break in the offseason:
“I need time to relax now after playing a year and a half in Spain and here. Now I’m going to go back to Chile with my family and come back with more motivation for next year. I feel very excited for next year.”
On whether he was playing injured in Dallas:
“Yeah. I didn’t sleep well before the game. I didn’t feel good. But for me, every game is important. It was very important to play against Dallas. But I didn’t feel good in the field. I just didn’t have any energy. In the game, I felt some pain in my foot. I think it was a good decision by Robbo to take me out.”
On the travel in MLS:
“This is new for me. It’s difficult. Before, I never experienced this in my career. In Chile, it’s not normal to fly four or five hours for one game or to go two days before a game. It’s not normal. I had to adapt this year. Maybe next year it won’t be a problem. Now, I’m going to get a good rest and I’ll feel much better next year.”
Thoughts on MLS:
“It’s incredible. Good players, strong league, the stadiums are full, a lot of fans. When we play here, it’s a good [atmosphere] for the team. I think it’s one step up from the leagues in Chile or South America.”
ANDY O’BRIEN:
On whether he’ll be back in Vancouver:
“I hope so. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season and that’s enthused me to want to play on next season, definitely.”
On what this team needs to improve:
“A lot of the goals we wanted to attain at the start of the season, we’ve managed to do. I think going into every season, you want to make the playoffs, you want to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, the Cascadia Cup is always a goal. So in terms of improvement, more or less do the same as what we did but obviously progress if we can a little further in the playoffs … I think I speak for the whole club and supporters that there’s a great anticipation for next year and that’s a testament to the work the boys have done this year.”
On how he felt physically this year:
“Fantastic. I’m disappointed that the season is over. I said before we [got eliminated from the playoffs] that we wanted to continue as long as possible because the atmosphere is great in terms of wanting to come to work. Physically I feel great and mentally I feel great. If I compare it to last season, it was very frustrating. I had quite a lot of niggles and being a year older, if I was out of contract and experienced what I experienced last season, I wouldn’t be as enthusiastic. I think the fact that I’m looking forward to next year speaks volumes to how I feel.”
On whether he’d accept a lesser role next season:
“Yeah, I think I’ve already had that discussion this season. There’s a challenge every year. The objective is to try and play as many games as possible. I appreciate that you can’t play every single game due to certain circumstances. I view it as a challenge. Even if I was told I wouldn’t be playing a big part, I’d try and prove that person wrong. And that’s the nature of the business.”
On whether he’d be willing to take a paycut:
“Yeah, it’s not all about money. I think it’s about being wanted. I’m very blessed to have had the career that I’ve had. At this stage of my career, it’s not necessarily about the money. It’s about being made to feel welcome and certainly since day one that I’ve been here with the supporters, with the manager and with the boys I’ve felt that.”
JORDAN HARVEY
Thoughts on the season:
“We’re moving in the right direction. I thought it was a good season. Obviously making the playoffs, getting 50 points, qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League and all those landmarks that we hit, I think it was a successful season. I’m just as excited about the next guy about coming in for next season.”
On what this team needs to do to improve next year:
“Obviously, a home playoff game would be nice. So getting more points and not having to play in that play-in game, because that’s always a difficult one – especially going away from home. But just building what we have this year. I think the consistency upped a notch, keeping the same core we have, and building on that.”
On Robinson’s first year as a manager:
“It’s been great. It’s been really great. He’s opened up some massive lines of communications between everybody, from top to bottom on the roster. He’s gotten the best out of the players. He has now a year of experience as a head coach. He’s only getting better – as well as the team.”
On the upcoming MLS Expansion Draft:
“Honestly, I’ll think about it whenever it comes. If it does happen, you deal with it. [Robbo] is going to have some tough decisions. That’s always the case. When I was in Colorado, it was a tough decision and I got picked up by Philadelphia. That’s just part of the business. I’ll worry about it when it comes.”
On Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City joining the Western Conference next year:
“They’re quality teams. I know Houston will bounce back. That’s a franchise that has been really successful throughout the years. And Kansas City has done well. They got knocked out around the same time as us. It just makes the Western Conference that much stronger.”
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