Marlon LeBlanc’s View
What pleased you most about the team’s performance in the 3–0 win?
“It’s a new team, a lot to learn, and I think we’ve played better. To be quite honest with you tonight, I was really pleased with the resiliency of the group, first and foremost, the application of the match plan. We got them exactly how we wanted to try and get them into finally score some goals in the run of play. Really, really good goals as well. So really pleased overall with with the application, the resiliency, and obviously as a result.”
How important was it to set the tone early against a team like Charleston?
“Charleston’s historically one of the top two, three teams in this league every year, and they’re incredibly well coached, you know, experienced, outstanding team. So we always talk to the guys about wanting to play the game on our terms, and I thought we played the game on our terms today. To get the early goal was big. To get the second one, obviously, before the half was critical. And then at halftime, the idea was, we told the guys we want the next goal as well, so we weren’t done. To be on the front foot and against such a quality team to be playing from ahead. I think was a was a big difference in the game for us.”
What was the tactical game plan coming into this match?
“I think we came into the league number one in the championship in possession. Like 56% of the ball we had. We complete more passes in the attacking half the new team in the league as well. Yet today, we wanted to set up to catch them in transition, and so one of the things that we needed to be was comfortable without the ball for the first time this season.”
“And we probably got battered statistically in this game with everything that’s known as the statistic that mattered, which were the goals. And for us, so far this year, it’s been the opposite. We’ve been really good with the ball. We’ve been really good in duels. We’ve been really good in possession and chance creation, but we weren’t scoring and we weren’t winning.”
“And today, Charleston had us in every one of those categories except the final result. And so the match plan today was to really attack them with speed on the transition. I thought Marcus, CJ and Stefan put them on their heels every single time we got going in transition. And you know, to be honest with you, we probably could have been a little bit better a couple other times too, but then we punished them, and that was the big difference today.”
“And, like I said, Charleston is an outstanding team historically, again, one of the best two, three teams in this league every year, that’s a big result for a club like us to come out and win three known so you know, all that said, I’m just really, really pleased that we got the result, but it’s just one result, and you know, we got to move forward really quickly.”
How did you evaluate the team’s overall cohesion and defensive performance?
“I think easy for me to come up here and tell you that it was, you know, all those things that you just mentioned were great. There’s the coach in me still wants us to be better. And I thought we had to win in a very different way today. And, you know, it was, it’s been no mistake. We played well and we haven’t scored goals, and today it came out.”
“It came out in connectivity, it came out in transition. It came out and and just a complete understanding to what we wanted to do in those moments. And it’s one piece of the puzzle is transition. The defending part was, for me, even better, because we pitched a shutout for the first time this year too.”
“And, you know, that had to happen, or did we shut out? We get a shot in the first game? I can’t remember. We did? We got to shut out in the in the game. It was the first time since the first game of the season. You know, it seems like forever ago, but today we competed in set pieces, and they had a lot of them long throws, and they had a lot of them.”
“They were bigger than us across the field, in every position, but we just had to be smart. And they thought we were really smart tactically. And kind of going back to what you said in terms of the connectivity of the group and the coordination, we were tactically really mature today, but the way we manage the game was outstanding.”
What did you see from Markus Anderson in his performance today?
“Marcus is an outstanding young player, and he’s only, what, 22 years old, and so you think about that, you know, he’s the second youngest player on our team, and this is my my third year working with Marcus, and I’ve seen an improvement in the development that has been on a really good trajectory every year. I think he’s the type of player who’s only going to continue to get better.”
“And when you think about the fact that he’s developing right now, and he’s getting minutes, and, you know, unfortunately, picked up a little bit of an injury to start the year, and now he’s getting healthy again, and as we continue to get him fitter and healthier, and he can go out and play 90 minutes, and he can play it as a forward, he can play it in midfield, and he works relentlessly, Right both directions.”
“He presses, forces the opponent into mistakes, and then he gets forward, and he creates chances of going to assist today. What a performance. And you know, to think that only 22 years old, he’s not this is not the finished product for him. He’s going to keep getting better.”
“And it’s my job as a coach, whether it’s Marcus or CJ or JC or anybody in this team, to maximize and help them, give them a platform so that they can improve and get better. It only helps our team if we can get even better. So I’m really pleased with where Marcus is at, and excited up and continue to take steps forward.”
How do you assess Jaden Servania’s performance and development?
“He’s another one who has picked up a little injury in preseason. He was late to join us in preseason. By the time we acquired him, had a little bit of an injury. Once he finally got healthy, he was off and away with Puerto Rico right for a couple, for three games with them. And so he hasn’t quite been in the group a whole lot.”
“And so before he went to Puerto Rico, he was finally healthy, he got back and after the international break and rejoin the group, and it was, you know, finally, I think him starting to hit and click on also owners and building those relationships on the field with the players.”
“Yes, you had a really good week of training, and we rewarded him with the start today, and he rewarded us with the game winning goal. I thought he was really good. I think again, he’s another one who we can mix and match and play different teams a different way.”
“Today, he played a little bit more of like a 10 underneath Marcus. In other matches, he’s played as a seven or an 11. I think we’ve got a really nice group of players with some different intangibles that can play different roles. And I thought Jaden showed a little bit of creativity in the midfield, too little bit of combativeness against the ball, and then obviously end product was there as well.”
Match Reactions
Stefan Stojanovic, Winger, #19
How did the team prepare for this match, and what worked well in the performance?
“I think the training week leading up to it, I think we had a really good week. Obviously, we had some we didn’t have a game, what I think it was this past weekend, so we had a break. But leading up to it, I think guys are motivated. Obviously, we’ve lost four in a row, and you never want to be in that situation. But I think, you know, we came out today, we had a we had a good game plan, and the first two goals were in transition. And I think that’s how we want to play. Want to be quick in transition. We go in transition going forward. And, yeah, I thought Marcus had a great game. I thought Jaden had a great game. I thought our back line had a great game. And overall, I mean, it was just a good team performance. So, yeah, really happy with that. I think that was much needed.”
How important is the team’s defensive structure in building attacking momentum?
“I think first defensively at all, it does start from the top. So it starts from our strikers to our midfielders and obviously our back line, but yeah, you could see today, I thought even the last 2025, minutes, when we were sitting deep, it was still a good defensive performance. They didn’t really have much, maybe a couple of shots on goal, and that’s a credit to everybody, not just the back line. But yeah, again, good, solid performance from everybody, and I think we’re all just happy to get another three points, and looking forward now to Sacramento in next week.”
How confident are you that the team can build on this result moving forward?
“I think we’ve been close. I think today we kind of saw what we can do when we’re firing on all cylinders. But, you know, we can celebrate it today. I think it’s important now we have an off date tomorrow, but when we come back in on Monday. Now we’re preparing for Sacramento, and I do think this is a good one to build off of but, yeah, I think we’re just now gonna enjoy today and then looking forward to Sacramento.”
What advice would you give to a young player aspiring to become a professional?
“I think the most important thing is that you have to, first of all, enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, you know, why even do it? And obviously, second of all, I think it does take a lot of hard work. You know, there’s a lot of times in my career where maybe I haven’t been playing as much as I wanted to. I’ve been a sub, I haven’t come in the games, I haven’t been rostered, and that takes a toll. But, you know, I really just enjoy the game. I love the game a lot, and I’m grateful I even have a team this year, and I really like, love this team here, but yeah, I think hard work is probably the number one thing alongside enjoyment of the game, because it is a beautiful game, we may as well enjoy it.”
Jaden Servania, Winger, #11
How did you feel returning from international duty and preparing for this match?
“Coming back from national team camp is always it’s always an honor and pleasure to be able to go first of all, but coming back like we won the FIFA series, and I just wanted to bring some of that into the team, and I brought some enjoyment. Try to enjoy training the best we can, but just the mindset of work hard, we all work for each other, and just let’s have fun on the field.”
What did you see in the game that allowed you to capitalize on your goal-scoring opportunity?
“We defend from the front then back. So all of us are putting in, like, very hard work, but even though we’re defending and lower, we have space to exploit. So then once we counter attack, everyone just making runs hard, runs forward and getting in the box and putting yourself in a goal scoring position.”
When the team is performing at its best, how difficult is it to stop?
“I believe that what Marlon instilled in us is everyone works hard pressed, everyone work for each other and and good things will come from that.”
What is the team’s mindset heading into the next match?
“Like Stefan said, like every game is there’s always the next game, so don’t get too high and just keep moving on and put the work in each week and move on.”
What has it been like representing Brooklyn and playing in New York?
“It’s been amazing. This is like, I’ve came once to visit New York, but this is really my first time being here. So just seeing the city, and honestly, this group of guys has been like a family to me. So that’s always a great thing, and just being here has been amazing. Can’t complain.”
