Marlon LeBlanc, Head Coach
What aspects of tonight’s performance worked well, and what still needs to improve against strong opponents like Hartford?
“Honestly, everything worked except putting the ball in the back of the net. The guys gave everything they had, and I thought it was a very strong performance without the result. We made one mistake that led to a goal, and that’s football, you see it happen all over the world. There’s not much more I can ask from the players in terms of effort and commitment.”
After the previous result against Hartford, what were the main points of emphasis during training this week?
“Hartford are very committed to their style of play, and we knew what to expect. I thought we broke them down well, played through pressure well, and dealt with their direct style for most of the game. We created a lot of chances again tonight, but we couldn’t capitalize. At the same time, Hartford are a very well-coached team. Brendan has them organized, athletic, and difficult to break down defensively.
For us, this is part of the learning process of building a new team and a new franchise. If we were playing poorly every week, it would be difficult to stay positive, but I don’t think that’s the case. We’re improving, we’re still building the roster, and we’re still laying the foundation. These things take time.”
What was your message to the team at halftime, and what was the atmosphere like in the locker room?
“This project was never going to be smooth from the beginning. We’re building a completely new franchise, and there are so many things happening behind the scenes that people don’t see. The message at halftime was about staying disciplined, staying true to our identity, and continuing to trust the process.
If you watch our team, you can clearly see what Brooklyn FC wants to be. We want to be aggressive with and without the ball, and we want to play in the opponent’s half. Sure, everyone wants results, but we’re also trying to build a culture and identity that lasts beyond any one game. Tonight, I thought we stayed true to that.”
Brooklyn controlled possession and spent long stretches in Hartford’s half tonight. What does that say about the team’s mentality and identity?
“You’re seeing our identity develop. We want to play aggressively, both with and without the ball, and we want to make opponents uncomfortable for the entire match. I thought tonight was one of the best performances we’ve had in terms of executing that identity. It’s frustrating not to get the result because the players deserved more from the game, but as a coach, you understand that these moments eventually turn if you stay committed to the process.”
How would you describe the current health of the squad?
“We’re not fully healthy right now. A few players are carrying knocks, and with a small roster, that becomes difficult because the same players are carrying heavy minutes every week. Pierre de Silva is beginning to return to full training, but we’re still managing several situations physically.
At the same time, that’s part of building a new club. We’re still putting a lot of foundational structures in place behind the scenes, from roster depth to medical and performance resources. It’s a process, and we’re continuing to build toward where we want this club to be long-term.”
Tommy McNamara, midfielder, #7
From a captain’s standpoint, how did you feel the flow of the game went? What changed from a strong first half to conceding in the second half?
“First off, I thought overall it was one of our best performances in a long time, and I think that’s a credit to the preparation we had this week. We knew exactly how the game was going to unfold and what we needed to do to be successful. I thought we were very good between the boxes and even in our own box. The difference was just in the final third. We had opportunities to score goals, and those moments change games. We didn’t capitalize, and then one mistake leads to their first goal and suddenly we’re chasing the game. The second goal comes late when we’re pushing numbers forward. Overall, the performance was really good — the next step is being more clinical when we create chances.”
What was training like leading into a match against a difficult opponent like Hartford?
“It was a really strong training week. Like I said earlier, we were very well prepared for the game, and that’s a testament to both the coaching staff and the players buying into the plan. We understood how important this match was, especially after getting a result against the Cosmos in the first Cup game. On one hand, it’s encouraging because I think our performances had dipped a bit over the last few weeks, and tonight felt like we got back on track performance-wise. At the same time, in a competition like this, eventually you need results, and it’s disappointing not to get one tonight.”
What was the message among the group at halftime to keep everyone mentally focused?
“The message was to keep going, stay relentless, and continue attacking with courage and belief. We felt like if we stayed aggressive and trusted ourselves, the goals would come.”
As one of the veteran leaders in the squad, what has it been like watching younger players step up in these difficult matches?
“I’m really proud of the group. I thought everyone who came into the game and contributed gave a very strong performance tonight. It feels like a step in the right direction because I thought our performances had been trending downward recently, and tonight we reversed that trend. Now the challenge is continuing to build on it.”
What do you think opponents are beginning to recognize about Brooklyn FC’s identity and style of play?
“I think teams see a group that’s collective in its effort and aggressive both with and without the ball. I thought tonight showed that clearly. Outside of the result, we played with a lot of aggression and intensity in every phase of the game.”
It felt like a lot of things clicked tonight, especially in the first half. What does it take for that chemistry in the final third to fully come together?
“It takes reps. It takes time on the training field working through patterns and movements, understanding where the ball needs to go and where the runs need to be. That chemistry develops over time. Then it’s about having belief and conviction in the final third, the mentality that we’re going to score when those moments come.”
Jaden Servania, forward, #11
The match was very physical throughout. Did you expect that type of battle coming into tonight?
“Yeah, honestly we knew coming into the game that Hartford was going to play very direct. We knew we had to win first and second balls, and I thought we did that really well for long stretches of the match. The next step is what we do once we win the ball and how we turn those moments into chances and goals.”
You created a lot of attacking opportunities tonight. What do you think the team needs to improve in order to find that final touch in front of goal?
“For me, it’s about repetition in the final third. It’s continuing to work on our wing play, getting players into dangerous areas, and making sure we’re attacking the end of crosses and chances consistently. It’s just about continuing to work on those details every day.”
What do you think opponents are beginning to recognize about Brooklyn FC’s identity and style of play?
“I think teams know they’re going to face a group with a lot of energy. We’re a young team, but we’re going to keep pressing and fighting for the full 90 minutes.”
