Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
On how the team is feeling heading into Portland...
“The mood is great right now. We go back seven weeks, started preseason, looking at what we need to do to improve on what we built last year. And the response from the players has been first class, you know, the attention to detail. Their attitude, just their overall game during preseason has been brilliant, and what better way to test themselves against the defending champions, away from home, in front of the hostile crowd. So, you know, they're all super excited, they're all raring to go. And, yeah, we just can't wait for that whistle to blow.”
On if Portland’s pre-game banner ceremony gives the team extra motivation...
“I think so. I think you use it as fuel because you want to be in that position this time next year, as well. You know, we want to go out there and show everyone how far we've come in the last last year or so. Again, Portland deserved the title, they deserved to win the championship last year. But this year is a new year, and everyone's fighting for that championship, and it's going to be another really competitive season for everyone. So, like I said, there's no better place to test yourself than here [in Portland] in front of a hostile environment against the defending champions. So we're excited to get started on Sunday.”
On his overall goals for the season...
“You have to take every game as it comes. The league is a marathon, it's not a sprint. So we bring our attention to Portland on Sunday and go back to what we said earlier, it started in preseason, where we had to get our principles, our culture, our identity in place before we started moving into a style of play. It's a new group, it's a lot of young players, it's getting them to know each other. That's why we did a preseason trip for a week. It wasn't for them to get to know me, it was for them to get to know each other and what their hobbies are and what they're like as people and I think that is really important as you're in a team environment. Because you're going to have to rely on each other through good times and hard times throughout the season. So, you know, there's a real togetherness here. Like I said, there's a young team who are excited to prove themselves against some of the best players and some of the best teams in the world. So, again, we're just we're excited to get going on Sunday.”
On the Club’s recently announced local broadcast deal...
“I think it's great. You have to get the community excited about what's in store for this team and the more you can expose the club and the team, the more excitement there is around the city. So having a local broadcast to televise the games and get more fun engagement, it's only going to put us in a stronger position and hopefully get more people in the stadium to come watch us play. And the players fully deserve that, going through what they went through this preseason and all the hard work and the dedication that they've put into it. Ultimately, it's our job to win games but if we can get more fans in stadiums and really sell the Orlando Pride, we're in a good and really positive position moving forward.”
On how the team will prepare to face Portland’s stars...
“You've just listed some really good individuals. But in this sport, it's a team game, and the best team wins on the day. And it's not just going to be reliant on our individuals, it's going to be reliant on the team and how they perform. In certain circumstances, we know that we're going to have to weather storms, they're a good team, they've got high quality players. But we've come a long way. We had a really positive preseason, some of the results against NWSL teams and the collegiate teams has been positive. And now, where points actually matter, can we transfer those performances into results and get points now? Again, looking at our rosters it still is a young roster. The message is: make a name for yourself. Let them remember you after they leave the field. So, again, there's no better place to do that than Portland away.”
On Marta’s upcoming return to the field...
“I'm sure it was a frustrating time for her because she couldn't contribute on the field. But, having her around on the field, giving her feedback, and being fully engaged in the vision that we have here as a club, really helps the young players and the players who are out there performing each week. So having her back and contributing on the field is somewhat like having a new player. She took her rehab really well. She was flying. She's a different kind of player than I've ever seen who, you know, she has a serious injury like that, and it hasn't affected the way she plays. She's still the same Marta as she was before. I'm sure everyone's going to be excited to see her back on the field and performing and contributing to the Orlando Pride.”
On how the chemistry is building on the attack...
“I think, going back to last year, I don't think we scored enough goals in the attack and everyone has to contribute. Looking through preseason, all the forwards have contributed in some capacity whether it's assists or goals and there's a real competition in the front line now. Everyone's fighting for a starting spot, everyone's fighting to get on the bench. And that's what we want. That's what we're trying to build here, is that everyone's challenging each other and there's always someone behind you who is looking for your spot. It's not only on the forwards to score goals, the defenders can pitch in with some set piece goals as well, which also can dictate your season. You get a one-nil set piece goal, you walk away with three points. I know a lot of managers will take that throughout the season. I think it's overall everyone has to do a job and contribute as best they can. And I don't think it's just on the forwards to score goals. Having been an ex-center back about myself, I always took that responsibility in set paces to try and contribute and try and score.”
On the team’s overall fitness heading into the game...
“We hit the ground running straight away. The medical staff did a terrific job with keeping players fit and healthy. We obviously had a periodization plan so we weren't overloading the players, and they could go out on a match day and perform to the best of their ability. And their overall fitness looks good, they feel good, they feel strong, they feel fit, they feel like they could go and stay in a high level for the duration of the game. We were really strategic with our preseason and the competition that we were playing. We wanted to make it competitive to really challenge ourselves. And I think we did that. Reviewing preseason there was a lot of positives, the only real negative was Carrie Lawrence's injury, which we all wish her a speedy recovery. And you never like to see that happen to a player, but I know she's strong and I know she can go through this process with her head held high and she'll come back fitter and stronger once she's recovered from her injury.”
On working with VP/GM Haley Carter to build the roster...
“She's been brilliant, she's been first class. Every decision that we make we are aligned with each other. I know that, from the outside, people look at our roster and go, there's not many big names here. What I said earlier is, these young players, these players who people may not be familiar with have to go and make a name for themselves. So, we've tried in the past we've had the big names and it hasn't worked. So we had to change something, we had to change our identity and look towards the future. The good thing with the draft picks and the players that we've brought in, they're all together in what we're trying to achieve here. They're all fighting and they all want to represent the Pride as best as they can. So again, I think the fans and the people from the outside should be excited of what this team will look like in this season.”
Forward/Captain Marta
On how everyone is feeling heading into the match...
“Well, the feeling is the best. We had a very good preseason and, of course, new players. Everybody looks so excited for the start of this season. So yes, it's a good feeling.”
On her road to recovery...
“That was very hard, of course. That was my first time in my whole career that I was out for so long and to go through all of this hard situation at my age. I just worked day-by-day to think about like, 'Yes, I still can play this game'. I still can go back and help this team. So that was hard. But the people around me helped me so much. So I'm so grateful for that.”
On how back to 100% she feels...
“Well, if I tell you that, I don't feel anything in my knee I'm going to lie, you know, I'm lying to you. But the feeling that I feel, to step on the field and be around the team and play, and training with the new players makes me [not] think so much about it. Of course, it's going to bother me for a little while, but it's something that I try to live with and deal with because as I said, playing, being able to train and look forward to playing in this season. It's much bigger than the other things.”
On if there are young players that will surprise fans this season...
“Well, we have a lot of new players here. Of course a few younger players and I hope it's everybody. I can't pick only one but I can tell you it's so nice to see how they're excited to train, to play, to learn and then I'm here to help them develop.”
On working with Seb and the coaching staff on the field for the first time...
“I feel comfortable with him. I think everybody has the same feeling. Seb knows the team better than anybody else. When I came to the Pride, he was here already. So he's the right guy to lead this team and I'm excited to see him on the field.”
On if she’s thought about the moment she first scores after injury...
“Yes, I think about it a little bit, yeah. Close my eyes and then I visualize some situation that I want to have soon, I hope. But right now, I just want to go back to enjoying this game. Don't put so much expectation. I just want to start playing and then feeling that feeling the soccer gives me when I'm stepping on the field.”
On what she did to stay motivated during her recovery...
“Oh, wow. I mean, that was a hard process. I've been working with this one day-by-day and something that made me feel strong, to go forward and doing this...When I look at my past, I had so many other things that was more difficult for me, and then I go forward, never step back. And when I had bad days that make me feel tired, feeling pain, listening to some people who didn't believe, like, 'Is she going to go back? Is she going to play again? Is she going to still keep playing at a high level?' I just remembered how hard it was when I started playing this game, how many people were against me. And then I just answered them by stepping on the field and playing, enjoying the game. So yeah, when I had hard times, I just think about how I had the hard times in my life there were more hard than this one.”
