Reign FC returned to Memorial Stadium on Monday for their first training session since Saturday’s road loss to the Chicago Red Stars. Head coach Laura Harvey reflected on her squads performance in Chicago as they set their sights on Thursday’s road fixture against FC Kansas City.
Seattle Reign FC: What were your overall thoughts on the match in Chicago?
Laura Harvey: Disappointed, overall. I think we always find it tough going to Chicago but we had a game plan that we didn’t really stick to. We had said we had to work on certain areas of the game and we didn’t feel we executed them as well as we could have. Obviously conceding a goal so late in the game is disappointing. Overall, I think there are things we need to work on in preparation for Kansas City.
SRFC: What were some of the positives you took away the match?
LH: We have been working on scoring goals off set pieces. It’s something we did well at the start of last season and felt it petered off during the second half. We spoke about that so it was good to get two goals off set pieces. And I also think that we felt we had played poorly, so for us to stay in the match until the last moments was another positive takeaway for us.
SRFC: Does the added pressure Kim Little is seeing change the dynamic of play?
LH: We just need to get Kim on the ball more. She is one of the best players in the world at playing under pressure. She is happy to receive the ball in any tough circumstance and teams are going to be prepared for her because of the records she set last season.
We’ve got to find her more and find her in higher up on the field. In both games, when she’s gotten on the ball in those dangerous areas, she is still a threat. Kim can still affect games under pressure but we need to get her on the ball a lot more than we have so far.
SRFC: Thoughts on the upcoming matchup with FC Kansas City?
LH: Seattle Reign and Kansas City always have great games irrelevant of scoreline. They’re always good games for the fans to watch, for the players to play in, and I think we test each other really well. With both teams coming off the back of a defeat, last years’ final might be in the back of the players minds but at the forefront, it will be about changing the narrative from loss’ into wins and both sides will be looking to do just that.
