Fitness is key as the League Cup continues for FC Cincinnati FC Cincinnati

The League Cup is an opportunity for FC Cincinnati to prepare and prepare for not only the playoffs, but the regular season as a whole. One of those opportunities is to identify problems and work to solve problems while there is time to solve problems.

One of the problems mentioned from Thursday night’s opening of the Le League Cup against Querétaro, one victory in accordance with the rules that gives FC Cincinnati all three points and obtains progress from the group, was as to the health of the group and how, in some cases, it is lacking. this creates tactical problems late in the game.

“One of the things that we continue to take away from where we are right now is that we need to improve our practice,” Pat Noonan said on stage at the post game press conference. “Too many guys have to come off the field in pain.”

In an ideal world, Noonan doesn’t make changes to the game based on fitness or health. Fatigue is something to manage, of course, but being forced to make changes sometimes means making changes that sometimes don’t fit well with the needs of the team.

The arrival of center back Chidozie Awaziem further highlighted the problem. Awaziem, who due to the nature of the European calendar, has only just started his pre-season training after a long break from the group stage in Portugal, played the full 90 in the first round. An unexpected but welcome addition as Noonan showed post game the plan was to assess him after 45 minutes of play, but his performance and fitness level show said he was good for the rest of the game.

The ability to stay fit and mentally strong was only hinted at when teammate Asad informed the world that Awaziem had flown in from Canada earlier in the day after receiving his work permit. to work. Adding to the fatigue he must have felt as he struggled to keep a clean sheet after 90 minutes of playing in the pouring rain.

“I wasn’t supposed to play 90 minutes, so I think I had to sit for 90 minutes because I was very tired… but it meant a lot to me (to get clean sheet).But like I said, I was good at the game. No matter when I came, today or yesterday, I was happy I’m ready to go.”

“I thought the way he controlled his speed, the way we were able to control the ball at times, we didn’t put our back line in the position they were they have to defend the area and he wanted it in the game in a good way,” Noonan said of his new defender. “This is a guy who has been advertised for two weeks. He is in pre-season and knows how to complete 90 minutes. That is what an experienced player can do. ”

Awaziem’s ​​ability to last the full 90 minutes was highlighted by Noonan as a factor for some of his FCC team to look out for. If there was anything bad about the night (besides the lack of finishing) it was the growing frustration from the FC Cincinnati manager that his team had players who couldn’t give effort. the completeness of the game without fatigue (in all ways) affecting the game.

In fact to make the case that if the newest member of the team, the latest Nigerian center who has started full training, can prepare and manage the game with such a way of seeing the game, then those who have been training and building. training since the end of January would certainly be the case.

“We have guys who need to understand what it means to be a pro not just in parts of the game, but for the whole game. The lead up to the game, and how to train to be ready to be there all the time in the game. I something we have to solve.”

“In some cases it is,” Noonan said when asked if fitness issues are a problem. “Sometimes that’s where guys play games first or get injured. If you miss time, you can play a little bit.”

But we have to make a lot of changes because of the tension. I’m not the only one pointing fingers at the boys that we need to improve their training. I have to look at training and how we can make sure this is not an issue going forward. ”