The Forward Press: Atlético Ottawa Begins Pivotal GTA Tour at York United
Atleti heads to the 6ix this week for a double-header against GTA opposition in less-than-ideal circumstances. Now sitting third in the league after being overtaken by Cavalry Saturday night, Atleti will need to dig deep for more positive results than the string of four straight draws. A win in York on Sunday afternoon would cement at least a top-three spot in the league, though anything less than second would feel like a disappointment given the position ATO resided in less than half a season ago. Atleti are yet to defeat York United following the mid-season appointment of head coach Benjamín Mora. Atleti actually only boasts two wins in seventeen against York all-time, though if it's any consolation Atleti may have caught York at a good time, with the Torontonians fresh off consecutive losses and Atleti only without Alberto Zapater, who remains sidelined through a “discomfort.” One such win came early in the season off the boot of Kris Twardek, and Carlos González will be hoping to repeat the trick of besting York this Sunday afternoon at York Lions Stadium. Here are all his quotes from the pre-match presser:
The Quotes: Carlos González
On match implications: “It's a massive game. I think that we are in that moment in which we need to show our best level, to give continuity to the good minutes that we are being able to play in every single game and to step forward from the beginning. I think that we are in that moment of the season that we don't have to see or look too much at the opponent. It's about us.”
On chance creation: “I think that the amount of goals that we're scoring are not enough for the amount of goal situations that we are creating. This is an issue, but I'm not very worried about it because I would be worried if we weren't capable of creating chances. In the last few games, we've created enough to win the games…I think that watching it from another perspective, I think that we can be satisfied because the team is able to create in many different ways in the game. We are able to create in set pieces. We're able to create in set play, in organized attack, in transitions. I think that we are in a moment of the season that these things are very valuable.”
On mentality concerns after four straight draws: “I think that the four ties have been completely different. Really different, each one…Against Pacific, I think that we did plenty of things properly to win the game. I think that we played a quite complete game in which we created and we were in position to win the 90 minutes. And it's true that about the last game, I went home very disappointed, mainly really because of the level that the team showed in the second half. I know that this image of the team is an image that is far away from the image that we wanted from the team. We built a team from the beginning of the season that is not that type of team.”
On the lack of minutes for Antinoro, Roy: “If they are showing that they are better positioned than other teammates, if they are giving a better level than other teammates, of course…The players that I feel that can give the best performance for their team, they are going to be the ones that play. And I feel that Tyr Walker, he's showing that he's not in the XI because he's U-21. He's in the XI because he's performing so well. And that is what I expect from other players also.”
The Big Takeaway: How Much Would a Win Galvanize This Team?
It’s not often you see a team go unbeaten in seven and the results fall into question. But Atlético Ottawa is absolutely crying out for a win in the next three games. A win today against York would not only put York out of sight in the race for the top three but leapfrog Cavalry to see ATO in second spot with only two matches to go. But from a mentality standpoint, it would also go a long way. It has now been almost two months since Atleti’s last dominant win, a 3-0 triumph over Pacific FC way back in mid-August. It’s not hard to see or imagine what draws feel like to these players. Tyr Walker noted after Pacific a few weeks ago that wins are needed for the remainder of the season. That those wins have not yet arrived can’t feel good.
One also cannot understate the importance of getting into playoffs on a winning note, especially now that finishing first and reaping the benefits of a home semi-final into a potential home final has more or less evaporated. There’s no room for mental lapses or loss of focus in the playoffs, so let's hope ATO has been merely going through the process of ‘getting it all out now.’ Vamos Atleti.
About the Author
Ben Ralph is a die-hard football fan and a journalism student at Carleton. He has been supporting Everton through the ups and downs (but mostly the downs) and could not believe his luck when he stumbled across Atlético Ottawa in 2021. Now part of the Atleti faithful, his dream has always been to write football stories, and he is excited to join other fans as writers for CCSG. His football journalist idols are Adam Hurrey, James Richardson, and Charlie Eccleshare from The Football Cliches Podcast.
