Atlético Ottawa take the C out of ATCO Field with 2-0 road win against Cavalry FC

With the previous week's match ending in a scoreless draw Atletico Ottawa was looking to get back into the win column heading into the match against Cavalry FC. Playing away at ATCO field in Calgary has historically been a strong point for the Ottawa side, and that continued with a 2-0 win this week. Kevin Dos Santos scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, and Nathan Ingham continued the team’s league clean sheet streak. Now it is time to look at what the coaches and players said in the pre and post-match interviews.

Diego Mejia once again was the only club member  to speak in the pre-match presser. He was asked to expand on his comments about defending by having the ball as much as possible and what it means for the back three:

“In our model we have the principle that the 11 players build the game, and 11 players defend. So, for us to try to have a good build up and create a lot of chances the first passes are very important and the first decision that you take on the ball. I think that if we have the ball for more time than we defend we concede less chances for the rival.  So, I think that that is our best defense because this team is amazing on the ball.”

Mejia’s defensive model that he likes to discuss appears to be working well for the squad over the last few games, considering there has now been four straight clean sheets in league play.  The head coach has said time and time again that the team just needs to stick to the model that has been developed and they will continue to be successful.

The next question that the Ottawa head coach was asked was about how the experienced players on the team have helped the young players this season:

“They help us a lot with the experience, they help us a lot with the advice for the youth players. So, I think that the role that they play in this team is incredible because even if they have more years than the younger players they fight for a spot in the starting 11.  I think that the help that I receive for that kind of players like Brett,  Zapater, and Abou it's incredible because they understand the model, they understand my job as a coach and finally if we win, we win all together.”

Having the players with the experience of Alberto Zapater and other veterans that are on the team must play a crucial role in the development of the younger players on the team, especially in a league that wants development of young players considering there is a U-21 minutes requirement.

CCSG’s own Jonathan Hopkins was able to get on the mic and ask the coach a question about what there is to look out for going into the match against Cavalry.

“I think that this will be a good game, a very interesting game because we need to weigh the behavior of Cavalry. Like I always said that we will go to try to create a lot of chances to try to play our model.  I think that they are a very tough team in the transition so we need to be careful with the transitions, but I think that will be a very interesting match.”

Mejia also said there were no injury updates going into this match.

Onto the post-match press conference, Manny Aparicio was the first to speak expressing his overall thoughts on the match.

“Yeah amazing. I mean it's not an easy feeling to come and get three points and we've done it twice this year. These types of games we are going to have to grind them out and we're going to have to leave everything on the pitch. And yeah, today came off. We executed our game plan and we scored a couple goals and we were on the better end of it. But yeah I mean not to take away from them, they're a great team. They fought to the last second and and it was a great game honestly”

It was a hard fought battle on both ends but as Manny said Atletico came out on the better end of it winning 2-0. The follow up question was about the game plan and how it led to the first goal that was scored:

“Yeah I mean we know it's tough to press into the middle because they play with two midfielders, two sixes. So obviously the trigger was a bit on the outside and then the quality we have from a couple guys just a few wall passes and then behind and then Kevin, he's never scared to take a guy on one on one and then you got a great goal. It was a great team goal and obviously as well Kevin finishing it off in that special type of skill to kind of just get through guys”

Continuing on the theme of goals, Aparicio was asked about the team having scored 30 goals in 13 games this season, which would make this edition of ATO on pace to be one of the highest scoring teams in CPL history.

“It's the most fun and football right when you can score and you can enjoy those wins with the team. Obviously, we know we have some great weapons up front, so as the midfielders and defense we kind of just grind it out and try to set them up in the best way possible and we know that they're going to finish them off.  So far they've been on fire and we hope they keep it that way.”

Diego Mejia returned for the post-match interview. His first question was about how his team has come into ATCO field this season, and having twice beat the defending champions, and how happy he is to see the team perform like this.

“All the matches here are tough. They have an amazing team, an amazing roster and an amazing coach. So to come here and win is a big prize for us because we have been planning really well through the week and the players follow the game plan incredibly so I am very happy for that.”

The Atlético head coach has a lot to be happy for considering his team has come out of two games at ATCO field this year with six points. Once again he has said the success is coming from his players following the model that has been developed. 

The next question for the coach was about the midfield, and how Manny and Coque have complimented each other this season.

“The experience that they have is incredible. On the bench I have Zapater, Abou and Ortega so the level of those guys is not for them it’s for the other players  that compete behind them. So I think that the level for one player is at work for the team.”

Both Aparicio and Coque have been great this season in the midfield for Mejia’s squad, but the coach emphasized the depth that his team has in the middle is where the success comes from. It allows for all of these skilled players to compete with each other for the starting spots, which makes the team as a whole better.

Diego Mejia’s Atlético Ottawa now has two wins on the season at ATCO field in Calgary and remains in first place in the league, and the coach credits the model that they have developed for the success his team has had and will continue to have if they stick to the plan. Goalscoring has been a big part of that model it seems, and Aparicio gave a nod to his team’s forwards for getting the job done. Diego and Manny both hope to see that success continue going into the next league match against Forge as well as the Voyageurs Cup quarter-final against York United FC. Join CCSG at the Glebe Central Pub for the watch party of the second leg of the Quarter-Final on Tuesday July 8 at 7pm and in the Dub against Forge on Saturday July 12 at 3pm!