1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Still Amander takes a left footage shot. 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 2: That's seek. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,079 Speaker 1: He's been the best on the pitch off season and 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: the next clamation point on the regular season for the 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: Brazilian All right, let's talk MLS Cup playoffs. Buckle up, 6 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: it'll be hell is Real in a best of three series. 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Two seed FC Cincinnati will take on seven seed Columbus. 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: The Orange and Blue will have home field advantage, hosting 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: game one next Monday, kickoff schedule for six forty five 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: from TQL Stadium. For more on that, let's go straight 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: to the source, the general manager of the Orange and Blue. 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: That would be Chris Albright. Chris Lance McAllister, how are you. 13 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 3: I'm doing great, Lass, Thanks for having me on. 14 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: It is great hearing your voice. Congratulations you guys finish 15 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: off the regular season with a three goal victory on Saturday, 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: a five game unbeaten streak. How do you feel this 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: club is positioned heading into the playoffs? 18 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: Position well, I think we have positive momentum, really strong 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: season to finish only a point out of the Supporter Shield, 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: you know, one of the major trophies in our sport. 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: Really proud of the job the players and the coaches 22 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: did to position us to you know, potentially only have 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 2: to go to Philadelphia if we have to leave TQL 24 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 2: Stadium on the road time LS Cup. So great opportunity, 25 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 2: ahead of the ahead of the club, and I think 26 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: everybody understands that. 27 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: Fourth straight playoff appearance, twenty wins for the second time 28 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: in three years. Man the journey included injuries, in additions 29 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: and international call ups and more injuries. This club navigated 30 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: a lot. How big was the depth you built up 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: along the way. 32 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: I got a great team behind me when we talk 33 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 2: about player identification, scouting, recruiting. This is the deepest group 34 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: I think we've had since I've been here in Cincinnati, 35 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: one of the deeper groups that I've you know, my 36 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 2: probably over twenty five years in the league have been around. 37 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: So I think we were ready to be able to 38 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: sustain some of that. Guys really stepped up, young guys, 39 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: star players, So you know, I think we're well positioned 40 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: with with a lot of contributors having contributed during the 41 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: season to be ready for the playoffs. 42 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: Now, Chris to back all of that, what does it 43 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: mean to have an ownership group that's been all in 44 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: in pursuit of an MLS Cup? 45 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 3: Oh, it's it's unique, is what I will tell you. 46 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: It doesn't exist in a lot of places in MLS. 47 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: You know, Carl Lindner and the group of owners have 48 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: given us incredible support resources to be able to go 49 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: out and and build a perennial winner. You know, obviously 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: we have one trophy under our belt, but are looking 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 2: to capture MLS Cup and again the local support from 52 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 2: from this ownership group is unlike any other in MLS. 53 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: We saw Brenner's brilliance on display again Saturday. I think 54 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: his fourth goal in six games, six matches on loan 55 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 1: back here, is it safe to say he's fit in 56 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: quite nicely in his return. 57 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: He's fitting great. 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: You know, look at he's He's matured a lot in 59 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: his time away. I think he's got better as a player. 60 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: He clearly under the system and the things that the 61 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: coaching staff had asked of him in the past. So 62 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 2: I think that was a really nice transition for him 63 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: to kind of tactically be clued. 64 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 3: In right away and know how we want to play. 65 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: And he's a special player, and he's scored some important 66 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: goals to put us in at the two seed, and 67 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: we'll expect more of that in the playoffs. 68 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: Speaking of a special player, Evander sets a club record 69 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 1: with his twenty second goal across all competition on Saturday. Man, 70 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: old man, what a season he turned in for you guys. 71 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: He's he's been incredible. You know, his to be able 72 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: to acclimate that quickly to a group obviously replace you know, 73 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: a big player in Lucho Acosta. He has this ability 74 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: to make the game slow down when everything around him 75 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: is going a million miles an hour. 76 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: He looks like he's playing a different sport. His ability to. 77 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: To strike a ball and score goals set up other players. 78 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 3: It's really remarkable. 79 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: If you haven't if you're a neutral and you haven't 80 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 2: been tql to come see a special player. 81 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 3: He certainly wanted to come see boy. 82 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: And what a Moment's Saturday Night for the Cincinnati kid. 83 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: Nick Haglan, who suffered a really scary injury early in 84 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: the season in May, hospitalized ten days in Atlanta. I 85 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: talked with him during that process on the show. Was amazing. 86 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: It was so scary to hear what he went through, 87 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: made it back, played, scored Saturday Night. What a moment 88 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: for him in this club. 89 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 3: That's great. 90 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: Nick is so deserving of all the success accolades, the 91 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: way that people talk about him. He's an integral part 92 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: to the culture, the kind of heartbeat of the club, 93 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: A player that when I first talked to when I 94 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: arrived about four years ago, I knew he was going 95 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: to be a part of our plans. And he really 96 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: is an extension of myself, the coaches down there in 97 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: the locker room, you know, helps helps get across exactly 98 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 2: what we're trying to achieve. And really happy to see 99 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: him score the other night in front of his family 100 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: and his hometown. 101 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: Chris, I don't want to leave out for someone who 102 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: has had his finger on the pulse of everything this 103 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: club has been through. I don't want to leave out 104 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: Pat Noon and tell me about the job Pat has 105 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: done in navigating all that's come his way this season. 106 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, he's a former Coach of the Year for 107 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 3: a reason. 108 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: I mean, there's not you know, many coaches that are 109 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: in you know, in Pat's you know, at Pat's level 110 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: as far as to be able to lead men and 111 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: tactically do the right things on the field. 112 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 3: And he's going to continue to be. 113 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: Challenged with with a really big matchup against against Columbus 114 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: over the next hopefully too, but perhaps three games. 115 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 3: But yeah, of course, can't. 116 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: Say enough about the job that Pat and staff have 117 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: done to position us with a real big opportunity. 118 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: Your goalkeeper, Roman Cellentito made his return from a leg 119 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: injury suffered in early September, and US national team camp 120 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: produced a clean sheet Saturday night. You've got depth again 121 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: at that spot. How do you proceed at that spot 122 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: versus Columbus. 123 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Romans, Evan did an incredible job while Roman 124 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: was out. Roman was, like you said, picked up a 125 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: knock in national team camp. 126 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 3: It was an honor for him to get called up. 127 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 3: Unfortunate he got the injury. Uh. Roman's been our number 128 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 3: one for a long time. 129 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: But but we're certainly confident in the job that Evan 130 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: can do. 131 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: Uh. 132 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: We have a young goalkeeper named Paul Walters, a who's 133 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: a Cincinnati kid. So I think we have an abundance 134 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 2: of talent and depth at that position, and anybody that's 135 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 2: asked to do the job, I think we'll be ready. 136 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: Let's look ahead to Monday. Here we go again, FC 137 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: Cincinnati and Columbus Crew. When I say FC Cincinnati and 138 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: Columbus crew, what do you think of. 139 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 3: A lot of anxiety for myself sitting up in the 140 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: booth now it's uh. Look, I think it's great for 141 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 3: our league. 142 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: The rivalry that you know pre dated myself arriving, but 143 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 2: that has only grown with the success of both clubs. 144 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 2: I think it's a wonderful product for MLS. And if 145 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: you are a you know, just a sports fan and 146 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: haven't been out to TQL Monday night, that our stadium 147 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: experience in in game is as good as there is 148 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: in any sport. I'm a fan of all of them. 149 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: Come out. You'll be home in plenty of time to 150 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: see the second half of some Monday night football game, 151 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: which I don't know will be very competitive as Jaden 152 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: Dangles has his hammy injury against the Chiefs on the road, 153 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: so not sure that that. Yeah, I'm pretty sure we 154 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: can beat that product. So you know, please come out 155 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: and support us. 156 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: We certainly are going to. 157 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: Need it, and you should really come be a part 158 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 2: of something special, no doubt. 159 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: No doubt. 160 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: Very well said Game one Monday TQ tickets available now 161 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: Fccincinnati dot com slash tickets. Hey, I know you're incredibly 162 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: busy getting ready for this. I really appreciate you making time. 163 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: I enjoyed the conversation and best. 164 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: Of luck, Lance. Thanks a lot. 165 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: I would just say one more thing six thirty tomorrow 166 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: night at Madtree Parks and Rec and Blue Ash. We're 167 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: gonna be getting fans together, players myself, giveaways, prizes a 168 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: little like Playoff launch party. So encourage everyone six thirty 169 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: tomorrow night, Mada Tree Parks and Rec. 170 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,679 Speaker 3: To kind of fit. This week started on the right foot. 171 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: Love it, love it not bad at all. Hey, thanks 172 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: again Chris, and best of luck. 173 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 3: Thanks last all right, take care there you go. 174 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: Chris Albright, general manager of the architect behind It and 175 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: the journey. I mean you talk about a thirty for 176 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: thirty and what they've been through from injuries to the 177 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: additions and then the international call ups, mass number of 178 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: call ups and then more injuries and navigating through all 179 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: of it to the number two seed and hosting the 180 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: Columbus Crew after clinching a fourth consecutive playoff appearance and 181 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: twenty wins for the second time in three years. I 182 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: loved what he said about ownership and the ownership group's 183 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: commitment going all in in the pursuit of MLS Cup 184 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: and as He said, it's rare in that leg, and 185 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: it's awfully nice.