With another chance to qualify for the Canadian Premier League Final in this Saturday’s semi-final against Atlético Ottawa, Forge FC’s players and head coach Bobby Smyrniotis met with the media this week to discuss the massive playoff game.
Although Forge lost last weekend’s qualifying semi-final at home to Cavalry FC, they’re confident they can turn things around at Tim Hortons Field this time and advance to a sixth CPL Final.
The match kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2, and can be watched live on OneSoccer.
Here are some highlights of what Smyrniotis, defender Malik Owolabi-Belewu and midfielder Noah Jensen had to say.
RELATED: PREVIEW: Forge FC vs. Atlético Ottawa — 2024 CPL Playoffs
Bobby Smyrniotis, head coach
On takeaways to address from the loss to Cavalry:
“The biggest thing is you don’t try and digest what happens. It’s one game and you’ve got another one ahead of you, so you have to spin and get prepared. You can’t just use that one game as being the meter stick for what’s going to ahppen in the next one. I think we just continued our training, continued on our principles, looked at where we can pose a threat to Ottawa, looking at seeing where they’re a challenging team to face, and that’s where the focus has been. … The path to certain things is not always linear, and these games are about hunger and fight. You’ve got to make sure that for 90 minutes you don’t give periods at any point of 10 to 15 minutes of downtime in any of these games.”
On his level of concern from a three-game losing streak:
“It’s been an uncharacteristic part of the season, with solidifying the Shield early on and having those last couple of games, it’s one of those things that you know as a coach different things happen, so you have to take those in stride. It’s no different, the way you plan your training and your periodization for certain things.
“I don’t take a lot into that, because right before that we’re scoring a lot of goals, doing all of the right things, the one game that got away from us was this past Sunday. The beauty of finishing in the top of the table is you keep on going, it’s the second leg of a semi-final with a different opponent and no score from the first game.”
On the advantage of having big-game experience:
“When you haven’t been in these situations, it’s sometimes hard to deal with what happens within the game because the game will bring everything to you. You can go up, you can go down, stalemate for a long period of time, and we’ve been through all of it. … That gives a level of calmness to the team, a level of understanding of how to deal with different situations and just go about it. Tactics aside, it’s the usually hardest-working teams over the 90-plus minutes, or whatever is needed, that are going to come out victorious in these games. You can’t give any periods of the game where you have a low level of concentration.”
On the high standard at Forge:
“We’re a team that plays for trophies, that’s important for us. We’re a team that sets certain goals at the beginning of a season. For us it started very early, a long time ago on Jan. 4, so we’re closing in on 10 full months of being together here as a group. We wanted to make sure that this is a club that continues to play Champions Cup football; we’ve done that by finishing top and securing the Shield, but our thirst is always for more. … We’ve hit a lot of our metrics. The thing is, this team always has an edge that always asks and wants for more. That’s what we’re looking for tomorrow, to have the opportunity to compete for another trophy.”
Malik Owolabi-Belewu, defender
On recovering from Sunday’s loss:
“Fortunately for us we have another chance to get to the final. We’ve just got to let that one go, look at our mistakes obviously and learn from them, and just go out and handle business, really. There’s no more games to look forward to like you do in the regular season; now it’s win or go home. We shine in those high-pressure situations.”
On his role in big games defending opposing stars:
“I love to defend. That’s obviously my biggest strength, and I’m sure anybody that’s seen me will agree and say the same thing. When I get tasked with a big opportunity, that’s what you dreamed of as a kid. You want to play in the biggest games possible in your career. Fortunately for me, in those games I’m asked to do something I love and do all the time, which is defend. …
“As the game goes on, confidence goes on and makes it easier. Looking back and being able to say I’ve had these performances against these players also helps. Going forward it’s like, okay, I managed to deal with Bernardeschi, who a few years ago I was watching play in the Euro final at Wembley — obviously broke my heart, but you know what I mean? Having played against that calibre and done well, it allows you to look forward.”
Noah Jensen, midfielder
On planning to play Atlético Ottawa:
“Ottawa does a good job tactically matching up against us. Almost every time we’ve played them they’ve come with a bit of a different look, whether that’s personnel or formation. They’re looking at us just as much as we’re looking at them, but we’ll have a good game plan. We know how to win these important games against Ottawa, and hopefully that’s experience that we can use in this game.”
On key Ottawa players to keep an eye on:
“Del Campo this season has been good at finding good areas in the box. Last time they came here we saw how dangerous they can be from set-pieces, even just the second delivery off of clearances. Bassett’s a guy who’s been able to do that all season, especially with his service and Didic being the big guy he is, those are two guys you have to look out for. But you take away set-pieces and you take away the counter-attack moments, and I think those are players our team can easily deal with.”