Soccer Banter caught up with Los Angeles Galaxy Assistant Coach Curt Onalfo following the clubs exit from the quarterfinal stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Besides discussing the matches against Toronto FC, Onalfo gave his thoughts on the Galaxy defense, Bruce Arena, and we also took a trip down memory lane.
Soccer Banter: Looking back on the 2 games against Toronto FC, what do you feel the team needed to do better in order to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League?
Curt Onalfo: First off, Toronto FC deserves a lot of credit for executing a smart game plan over the two-game CCL series and advancing. For us, it was as simple as not making key plays at both ends of the field. We needed to convert some quality chances we had in the home leg and needed to defend better for a few key moments as well where Toronto converted...that was the difference for the series. Credit to Toronto for making some big plays.
SB: During preseason with top players out on loan and losing Omar Gonzalez to injury, was winning the Champions League a realistic goal? How important is winning the CCL for MLS clubs?
CO: It is always important to advance in international competitions and represent MLS well. Having said that, it isn't easy and at this point of our evolution as a league we still have some ground to make up before we can consistently compete and win against the Mexican Clubs, which by the way, is one of the highest paying leagues in the world.
Soccer Banter: Looking back on the 2 games against Toronto FC, what do you feel the team needed to do better in order to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League?
Curt Onalfo: First off, Toronto FC deserves a lot of credit for executing a smart game plan over the two-game CCL series and advancing. For us, it was as simple as not making key plays at both ends of the field. We needed to convert some quality chances we had in the home leg and needed to defend better for a few key moments as well where Toronto converted...that was the difference for the series. Credit to Toronto for making some big plays.
SB: During preseason with top players out on loan and losing Omar Gonzalez to injury, was winning the Champions League a realistic goal? How important is winning the CCL for MLS clubs?
CO: It is always important to advance in international competitions and represent MLS well. Having said that, it isn't easy and at this point of our evolution as a league we still have some ground to make up before we can consistently compete and win against the Mexican Clubs, which by the way, is one of the highest paying leagues in the world.
SB: Moving forward, many questions are being asked about the Galaxy backline, what are your own thoughts on the center-back position with LA?
CO: Omar Gonzalez is the reigning MLS defender of the year and very hard to replace, having said that, when players get injured an opportunity is born for another player to step up and perform. We have four very capable replacements that can all step in and perform well in Omar's absence (Boyens, Meyer, Gaul and Leonardo).
SB: You played for Bruce Arena and have coached alongside him, what makes him so successful as Head Coach?
CO: That is a hard question as he possesses many qualities as a person that has made him thus far the most successful soccer coach ever in the USA. A few words that come to mind to describe why are: Planning, Integrity, Drive, Competitiveness, Poise, Patience, Intelligence, but probably the most important is EXPERIENCE. He is self-reflective and because of this gets better each year and don't forget he has been coaching for over 35 years!
Ok, serious questions out of the way, hope you enjoy this next part…
SB: Your most memorable moment as a player and as a coach?
CO: My most memorable moment as a player was during one of my first games back after fighting and beating advanced Hodgkins disease (cancer). I was playing for Tampico FC in Mexico back in 1995 and after beating Pachuca one night I stayed on the pitch to celebrate with a group of fans that had come onto the field. My coach asked me afterwards, why I was celebrating like we had just won the world cup (I told him I felt lucky to be alive, let alone playing professional soccer and was just caught in the moment). It was an emotional moment for me that I will never forget. Having dealt with that adversity has defined how I look at life to this day.
CO: Omar Gonzalez is the reigning MLS defender of the year and very hard to replace, having said that, when players get injured an opportunity is born for another player to step up and perform. We have four very capable replacements that can all step in and perform well in Omar's absence (Boyens, Meyer, Gaul and Leonardo).
SB: You played for Bruce Arena and have coached alongside him, what makes him so successful as Head Coach?
CO: That is a hard question as he possesses many qualities as a person that has made him thus far the most successful soccer coach ever in the USA. A few words that come to mind to describe why are: Planning, Integrity, Drive, Competitiveness, Poise, Patience, Intelligence, but probably the most important is EXPERIENCE. He is self-reflective and because of this gets better each year and don't forget he has been coaching for over 35 years!
Ok, serious questions out of the way, hope you enjoy this next part…
SB: Your most memorable moment as a player and as a coach?
CO: My most memorable moment as a player was during one of my first games back after fighting and beating advanced Hodgkins disease (cancer). I was playing for Tampico FC in Mexico back in 1995 and after beating Pachuca one night I stayed on the pitch to celebrate with a group of fans that had come onto the field. My coach asked me afterwards, why I was celebrating like we had just won the world cup (I told him I felt lucky to be alive, let alone playing professional soccer and was just caught in the moment). It was an emotional moment for me that I will never forget. Having dealt with that adversity has defined how I look at life to this day.
As a coach I have many including winning MLS Cup last year with the Galaxy, but as a Head Coach the one that stands out the most was winning my debut with the Kansas City Wizards (4-2 on the road at DC United). I remember turning to my assistants in injury time several times asking "how much time is left, how much time is left?”. Finally after asking them the six or seven times, one of my assistants said smiling, "only five seconds have passed since the last time you last asked!". It seemed like an eternity...Great moment indeed!
SB: Who was the best player you ever played with?
CO: I would have to say Marco Etcheverry, in the early years of DC United his will to win and his ability to perform when it mattered most was pretty remarkable.
SB: Who was the best player (and why) you ever played against?
CO: Probably Dino Baggio from Italy in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. I vividly remember marking him on a corner and he literally jumped through the roof. I felt like his cleats were even with my chest when we challenged for the same ball. Fortunately, for me I was able to bump him and he didn't score on the play.
SB: Pick your all-time starting 11 that you shared a field with? Any formation you want and you better include yourself!
Jaime Moreno Eric Wynalda
Marco Etcheverry
Eddie Lewis Claudio Reyna John Harkes Cobi Jones
Jeff Agoos Eddie Pope Robin Frasier
Brad Friedel
SB: Who was the best player you ever played with?
CO: I would have to say Marco Etcheverry, in the early years of DC United his will to win and his ability to perform when it mattered most was pretty remarkable.
SB: Who was the best player (and why) you ever played against?
CO: Probably Dino Baggio from Italy in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. I vividly remember marking him on a corner and he literally jumped through the roof. I felt like his cleats were even with my chest when we challenged for the same ball. Fortunately, for me I was able to bump him and he didn't score on the play.
SB: Pick your all-time starting 11 that you shared a field with? Any formation you want and you better include yourself!
Jaime Moreno Eric Wynalda
Marco Etcheverry
Eddie Lewis Claudio Reyna John Harkes Cobi Jones
Jeff Agoos Eddie Pope Robin Frasier
Brad Friedel
This was really difficult to narrow down to 11 from 22 players I had in mind...these are all teammates I had the pleasure to play with in MLS and the national team program.
Here's my second eleven
Roy Lassiter Eduardo "el tanke" Hurtado
Mauricio Cienfuegos
Gregg Vanney Richie Williams Kris Kelderman John Maessner
Alexi Lalas Curt Onalfo John Doyle
Kasey Keller
Here's my second eleven
Roy Lassiter Eduardo "el tanke" Hurtado
Mauricio Cienfuegos
Gregg Vanney Richie Williams Kris Kelderman John Maessner
Alexi Lalas Curt Onalfo John Doyle
Kasey Keller
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