After Saturday’s 2-1 victory in Kingston, Jamaica, the job is not over for Stephen Eustáquio and the Canadian men’s national team as they prepare for the second leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. This time on home soil at BMO Field, it’s certain that there will be a lot more red and white in the crowd, a factor that both Eustáquio and interim manager Mauro Biello value highly. The midfielder and coach both shared their thoughts on the win, Tuesday’s second leg, and their looming Copa América qualification in a virtual press conference on Monday.
Biello giving his thoughts on the first leg in Jamaica:
“I think the game played out the way we thought, they’re a team with some players up front that could cause a lot of problems. We knew that they would be direct and for us, it was important to not give them any space and not give them any type of rhythm and I think we were able to do that really well … the players executed tactically what we wanted and we know that we have to be careful because in a moment with some of [Jamaica’s] players, they could put us in danger … We knew our moments would come and we took our moments … it’s something that we discussed and worked on during the week and we were able to execute in the game.”
Eustáquio on the challenges of building momentum:
“It’s easy to have momentum when in every [international] window you play at home, you play here with the Canadians, everybody wants to come see the game, we do well, we play well, we win, we’re winning … it’s hard to build momentum when all CONCACAF tournaments are outside of Canada. In September we didn’t have a window, October [we had] game away, now we’re coming back home and then we’re only gonna come back home March probably … So when it comes to that it’s hard to build momentum … I believe we have the organization to bring big tournaments here in Canada … and you know, that’s going to help us a lot with the momentum because obviously we enjoy playing more at home than away.”
Biello on Canada’s momentum at BMO Field:
“If you look back over the last five or six years … every time we come here and we play here, we feel our fans behind us and I think that means a lot to the players. They’re able to feel those emotions in the stands and when you combine that withthis group of players that have had success, you start to build this momentum here at the stadium … Hopefully we continue that momentum tomorrow and make a lot of fans here proud.”
Eustáquio on the value of Copa América qualification:
“I think inside the locker room, we know we know how much of a big tournament it is. Probably the people, the fans in Canada, they don’t really know the value of Copa America, but for me in terms of passion and quality and velocity and intensity … it’s probably one of the best tournaments in the world. So, I’m very, very happy that we have the opportunity to play Copa America … I’m very happy that CONCACAF is involved.” **
Eustáquio on how he sees his role with the team:
**“I’m not a captain, all the leadership you guys talk about is, I think, because of how I play, and the style that I play. It’s just me being me. I don’t try to force things … I’m a nice guy, I work a lot for the team, I think my teammates respect me … What I do is for the good of the team … this leadership conversation, I just try to be me.”
**
Biello on any adjustments for the second leg:
“Obviously, they’re gonna adjust things, we got to be ready for that, but at the same time, we got to be able to control the game and put the game on our own terms … We’re playing at home and for us, it’s about imposing our identity, our rhythm in the game and then being very careful of some of the threats. As you saw in Jamaica, there’s three or four players there that we need to pay some special attention to.”