The Portland Thorns head to one of the top atmospheres in all of women's football, CPKC stadium to take on the Kansas City Current.
The home side is undefeated at home (4-0-0) and will look to continue their winning ways, while the visitors hope to stop their streak.
Here's everything you need to know before the match:
Match Preview with Thad Bell - Managing Editor of KC Soccer Journal
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Pregame Media Availability with
Robert Vilahamn and Marie Müller
STF: Start us off with the update on the status of Moultrie and Turner, and if there's any additional injuries.
Coach Robert Vilahamn: No, so both of them are back in the roster, which is good news.
STF: Just looking back at the Bay FC match, coach, you know, what are some of the takeaways from that match - things that you, you really liked and things that you would like to clean up just heading into KCC?
Coach Robert Vilahamn: I think we were having a very good first half, creating a lot of good goal chances. I think also the defense work in the first half was really good, so I think that was a good part where we're starting to create those chances we want to do, and I think hopefully we can execute it a little bit better to make sure we have more than 1-0, because the second half we were getting closer to a goal and creating, you know, chances and corner kicks, so I think if we can make sure we have 2-3-0 and not going in that phase when we have that dominant first half in the game, that would be great. On the other hand, I think it shows the depth we have in the roster in the second half in the end, where players coming in, scoring goals, give the structure the right thing, and then we keep the clean sheet. So it's a lot of good stuff from the Bay game, but obviously there's also stuff we don't want to improve on. Kansas is a different story, away game against them, they are very strong at this stadium with a good frontline, for example, so we need to be very, very sharp in some phases of the game, but it's also going to be a very fun game to play.
STF: Coach, you were talking about the depth of the team, right? You put 3 rookies in towards the end of that match and we're talking about Immethun, then Lyles, and Shea Harvey. What have you seen from them in training, and what other young players have kind of caught your eye with progress in development as well.
Coach Robert Vilahamn: Yeah, I think it's very interesting when you play players who haven't played before in a tough situation. It's not only when you are 4-0 up or 4-0 down, you actually put them in a tight game, and they come in and deliver what they did, and it shows.
Coach Robert Vilahamn: The quality they have. I think all of them has come from college, all of them are having that transition into the pro environment, and Portland, who is one of the best teams in the world, basically, so obviously it's not that easy to close that gap from college to that. But they have trained so well, they have been consistently acting like professionals, so even if they were not picked in the roster, even if they didn't play too much, they have worked so hard, both individually and collectively in training, which means that they also know how it is to be patient, and then they deserve to play those minutes, and then they showed me that they. They can manage this level, and then it's easier for me to now start pushing them for even more minutes, so that's kind of the environment you want to create.
STF: Yeah, and Coach, you mentioned, you know, your new assistant coach, Jen Lalor, quite often, you know, just player development. How much has that helped, you know, just the squad, just in recent weeks, you know, just getting players ready to play on match day?
Coach Robert Vilahamn: Massive. I said it in front of this technical staff the other day, how happy I am with Jen, because I can just give you an example. The first games when we traveled away with the roster, those players who was not picked, they were staying and training, of course, but they trained with the medical team, but we didn't really have a technical coach, we didn't have an IDP program for them. So now she's staying, and she's putting up a, you know, a perfect session plan for them to work on their position, what we want with them. But also, she gives them the motivation and love that they need, because obviously I'm not picking them for the roster, and then they're obviously going to be upset with me that day or those days. But to have an assistant coach that can, you know, deliver that we care about them, that we want to develop them, that it's not too far away to get back into the roster, that's massive for me, and Jen, with her expertise, her experience, and her personalities, is extremely good. I'm so happy with that signing, because she gives us exactly what I want with the player development plan, and also balances those players who are frustrated, but still getting something meaningful to do when they are frustrated.
Question: Coach, talking about Kansas City Current. Undefeated at home and way different splits on the road and at home, CPKC Stadium, one of the best environments in women's football. Can you just talk to us about, the keys to this match? What things need to happen to try t, make that record blemish a little bit after tomorrow? And just kind of your thoughts looking into this match.
Coach Robert Vilahamn: Yeah, I mean, their strength at the home stadium and when they have a good day is very obvious. You could see that last season when they were good every game, basically. And Chawenga is back as well. She's a big, big threat because she's so rapid and she's so good to score goals.I also think now that the coach have got more games with them, and they're building more relationships, so you can tell they are improving a lot. And we know their strength, and we also know that if we lose the ball in the wrong areas, they're gonna be extremely good in those counterattacks, so we need to be aware where we can play through them, and where we should be much more smart in how we can do that. I also think they high press and everything, they are smart in the way they do that, so we need to be aware of that. And then if you look at our shape, our possession, we have been very good in out of possession to defend. This team is a very good team if we don't get the press right, and then they're gonna open up spaces through us, so we need to be very sharp in the press triggers and the moment of those phases as well, and I think, actually, set pieces will be one of the main things in this game as well.
Question: Yeah, and then coach, one fun one to end it is, you know, what is one thing you would love to bring from your hometown to Portland?
Coach Robert Vilahamn: The ocean.
STF: Hi Marie I guess we must call you defender/attacker now, or winger/defender, whatever you want to call it. You've been playing as an attacker as of late. What's the learning curve and kind of involve playing kind of a new position, but also just having a completely different mindset, it seems.
Marie Müller: Yeah, I don't mind where I'm playing. I always say I just want to play, so I take every single position, and when I was younger, I already played winger, so it was nothing new. I mean, it's been a while, and I was like, yeah, I just take it, I try my best, and I think it's good if you play with fullback, you know what you expect from your winger. So I had this in my mind, and I try to work on this in the game.
STF: Have you been attending both of the meetings at this point with the defense and with the attackers at this point?
Marie Müller: Yeah, we were sit down and talked a little bit how to press and everything just to get everything in my mind again. And yeah, some steps I have to be aware of. But, yeah, it's nothing new, I mean, soccer is soccer, if you play fullback, you kinda know what you want, so it wasn't super difficult, I would say.
STF: Yeah, what was the conversation like with the staff when they brought up this opportunity to you and kind of mentioned that this is a possibility?
Marie Müller: I kind of had a feeling. I mean, sometimes in training we already try something new so I wasn't super surprised, and yeah, I mean, I'm just happy that the staff is trusting in me, and yeah, I'm just happy to play.
STF: Yeah, and then Marie, just think about your journey of coming back from injury, now you're playing on these short weeks, you are playing multiple positions. What have you learned about yourself and your comeback and how much has all this kind of meant to you just be playing football consistently again?
Marie Müller: I mean, rehab was a long process, and you're just working one year for the moment, being back on the pitch with your teammates, and now we're in the middle of the season, I think it's the 11th game now. We had so many games right now, and I'm just thankful for every minute I get. I feel my body feels every time better, I feel more confident. So yeah, it's pretty good that I get all the trust. Now it's working really well so I hope we can keep going with the energy.
STF: Yeah, and then just kind of speaking about just the short weeks for the team, right? I think the most amount of short weeks possible has happened for the Portland Thorns. Physically, how's this team just kind of been accommodating all that? I know Coach Vilahamn has been talking about it and listening to the trainers as much as possible. But for you and the team, how have you all kind of just balanced all that, especially physically, mentally, and things like that?
Marie Müller: I mean, it's our job. So I think we kind of have to be prepared of this time. And I mean, we have a great staff when we have a good medical team. So I think we are all old enough to listen to your body and recover good after the games, especially when it's like a 3 game week. I think it's just being focused on all these things you can do for yourself, and bring the best performance on the game day.
STF: Yeah, and talking about Kansas City Current who are undefeated at home and completely different splits on the road from home. And then CPKC Stadium is one of the top environments for women's football. What have been the discussions this week about and what needs to happen to try to blemish that record a little bit?
Marie Müller: Yeah, I think we know all that this is a good team. I mean, they were pretty good last season. So we know exactly what we have to be aware of, but we also work on their weaknesses and try to, catch them at those points and be the better team at the end. We know they home good, but we're also kind of in a good flow, so I hope we can keep up the energy, have a good game, and win the game.
STF: Yeah, and then one fun question for you which is the same one for Coach. If you could bring one thing from your hometown to Portland, what would it be?
Marie Müller: Oh, that's easy - my family.
