Valour FC coach Rob Gale joined OneSoccer’s Hangout on Tuesday to discuss his team’s showing at The Island Games, the impact of centre-back Andrew Jean-Baptise, and tease a few players who will be in Winnipeg next season.
Asked about Jean-Baptise’s re-signing, Gale said the Haitian international was a crucial part of their 2020 Canadian Premier League squad.
“We trust him and he feels valued – that’s so important,” Gale said. “There are not many left-footed centre defenders out there.
“When [Jean-Baptise] went out injured against HFX Wanderers… that was a big turning point for us when we lost us. Otherwise, I fancied our chances to advance to the second round.”
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Valour finished in sixth place in PEI with a record of 2-2-3 and scored just eight goals over seven matches. A lack of goalscoring prowess is something Gale hopes to address this off-season.
“We need a no. 10 and a no. 9 to get bums off seats, as they say,” Gale stated. “We’ll also look for an operator in the middle of the park, too… We’re going to continue to build the jigsaw puzzle.”
Gale also told OneSoccer that Valour will announce more signings, “around once a week,” over the next few weeks.
“We’ve got a lot more to announce. We’ll be giving announcements once a week to our fans of our returning core – players I know but will become public,” Gale said.
To watch Thursday’s OneSoccer Player & Pundit Hangout with Rob Gale in full, click here.