November 7, 2024 • 10 mins
Louisville City FC Head Coach Danny Cruz discusses the upcoming match against Rhode Island, the importance of playing at Lynn Family Stadium, the process of preparing for the game, Rhode Island's strengths, and his game day message for his guys...
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know what News Radio eight forty w h s
Terry miners here. Well, we have a busy Saturday around
the community. Louisville's playing basketball, Bellerman's playing ball, and you
know what happens Saturday evening. Louisville City FC continues in
the Eastern Conference semi finals of the USL Championship Playoffs
at Lynn Family Stadium. The head coach is Danny Cruz
(00:23):
lou City FC. Good to see you, coach, good to
be here. Well, you've enjoyed your stay in Louisville so far.
You've been doing wonderfully. This season's been fantastic. You got
to be feeling pretty good about having these games at home.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I mean, it's a huge advantage when you get to
play in front of our fans in the community, in
that stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're super fortunate about that.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
But we're excited about Saturday, and our hope is that
we can definitely show up and perform in front of
in front.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Of everybody because it's it's do or die time obviously,
and it's Rhode Island. You've had a tie and a
loss to them, so now obviously the only thing remaining
is the thing that's going to happen on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, that's it, just the trifecta, right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You prevail on Saturday in advance and you still get
to stay here, right.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
And we're fortunate enough in the regular season to get
the job done so that if we do continue to
advance in the playoffs, everything goes through Lynn Family Stadium
and a big advantage here.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
At seventeen and one. Though, obviously you know this team
is you know, there's good chemistry here. You've had a
sort of a regular system you've had in place the
whole season. Do you tighten up during playoffs? Do you
limit the amount of practice time for instance, anything change
because it's so critical that everybody's available.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, yeah, I get that question a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I think one of the biggest things we've tried to
focus on this year is making sure that our process
doesn't change. Obviously, there's a lot of emotion that goes
into it when you're playing in such a big game.
But the reality is is I want the players to
understand and they have up to this point, that changing
our process is not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And we have to continue to do the things that we've.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Done over the course of a thirty four game season
because it's put us in the position that we're in now.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And this Rhode Island squad, obviously you've seen them twice.
What's different about them from some of the other opponents
you've had. What do you have to make sure is
in place for Loo City FC?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I think it's one of the biggest teams in
the league from a physical standpoint, and set piece has
become a massive part of this game this weekend, and
we've put maybe a little bit more time into it
this week than we typically would just because of the
size of the opponent.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
But we played them here at home.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I was actually, ironically, despite the score line, really happy
with the performance. From a statistical standpoint. We probably out
performed most of the games at home, believe it or not.
You know, we were coming off of a week on
the road straight seven days of travel, and then had
to play them on a quick turnaround. So I feel
really good about the fact that it's a normal week
(02:59):
for us. We're here at home, you know, again in
front of our fans and making sure that, as I've said,
we continue to do the things that we've been doing
all season put us in the best position to win
the game.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, and your team sleeping in their own bids you hope.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, very true, very true.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
But you want everybody focused. It's like, this is no
time for distractions, even though they'll have family and friends
coming from other places, but still it's it's all about this,
you know, system, staying in the process.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, no, no question.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think the reality is is they put in so
much work for about eleven months now and making sure
that for the next three weeks we stay focused on
the goals at hand, and I have a group that's
incredible when it comes to that. Honestly, this is this
This group of players has been so much fun to
work with and to come in to coach on a
daily basis that there's no doubt in my mind that
(03:52):
they're gonna they're gonna put themselves in a position to
make sure that the level is what we expect on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Night and then on match day. Is it are they
Are they under your thumb the whole day or is
it just kind of you You don't want anybody to
get too nervous, so they just kind of you don't
add any special restrictions or anything.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
No, the only thing that has been a constant, which
it has been every single year, is they'll they'll get
together for the pre match meal, you know, about three
and a half hours before kickoff. But otherwise I want
them to go through you know, some of them obviously
have kids. They want to go on a walk in
the morning, and everybody has their own their own process
within that day. But being at home, you're allowed to
(04:35):
do that, right, and I think that puts you in
the best position mentally and physically to be able to perform.
And when we're on the road, those things kind of change.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You're you're laying in a hotel room for more hours
than you probably should be, So being able to be
here is a big part of that.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
I think that's part of the joy of living too,
is being able to work out of your own base.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Speaking of parenting, yeah, I hear there's a little expansion
in your house.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, little expansion.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, but
we got a little boy already, Santiago. He's four years
old and we got one more on the way. So
my hope is that he can he can come into
this he or she can come into this world and
we can be lifting a trophy.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That's the goal. Would that be awesome? It would be.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It would be when's baby.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Doo mid December. December nineteenth is the plan that's going
to be.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
We'll see shiny new trophy.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It's all fantastic, that's it. Yeah. Obviously the city's love
for Low City FC is intense. They've only won a
couple of these USL titles. Just like that feels good.
The trophy case isn't empty. Yeah, yeah, and that's a
good thing to build upon as well. So do the
players that come in and do any of your former players?
Are they part of the support system?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I think it's a I think it's a great question
there there that we have former players. That one that's
on my coaching staff, Paula up Piccolow.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Never heard of him.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
One that's uh, you know, one of the directors of
our foundation, George David. You know, we've had former players
that we're coaching in the academy that left to take
you know, first team jobs.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But you know, when when you speak to to.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Our owner John Nice, one of the biggest things that
he cares about is is keeping good people within the organization,
and I think we try to do that at Louisville City.
That's a testament to our ownership group, and and obviously
making sure that the culture is what it has been
for quite a long time. And when you have that,
you for me, you you're building something that is bigger
(06:31):
than the individual. You know, And we we have a
group of people involved in our organization that I enjoy
coming to work with every single day, as I said,
and that that's that's not just players. So we're we're
really happy with with where we are at the moment.
But my hope is so many people uh in this
organization this year have done so much and and there
brings me no more joy than being able to to
(06:54):
see the smile on their faces when a ball goes
in the back of the net or we end up
winning a game. It's not just the players, it's not
just the coaching staff, it really is everybody within the organization.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It's Thursday, and usually on this day a lot of
priests and other spiritual leaders will start writing their sermon
for Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
They want to be ready. What do you have ready
for Saturday?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Is it already in your mind. You choreograph these things
in advance. Do you think about it on Saturday morning,
what you're going to say before they go out.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I do think about it.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Typically, I try to reaffirm what I think my messaging
should be or I want it to be on Saturday
when I'm in my office preparing for that.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The one thing that has been a constant.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Theme that is important to me is that our players,
my staff, we don't take an opportunity or a day
for granted, you know. And this year we've had some
unbelievable moments as an organization where we've been fortunate to
have some whether it be kids or whether it be
you know, people that are going through some things be
(07:57):
involved in that, whether they come out on the Friday
or the Thursday. And you know, there's been times where
I show the players. We have this camera at the
top of lim Family State where you can see everything
that's not on TV. And an example I would I
would say is I showed the players probably about two
months ago, we score a goal and there's two kids
(08:18):
down on the on the rail that are celebrated like
you wouldn't believe, screaming, jumping up and down, and what
I want the players to see and it's what I
believe is this is the type of inspiration that you
bring and this is what it means to other people.
And so when we talk to the players, and I'll
probably talk about this on Saturday, it's again not taking
for granted a moment you have the ability to inspire.
(08:38):
I want you to inspire. I want you to not
take for granted two yards, three yards, four yards, because
those yards make a difference. And at the end of
the day, when we were walking off that field, look around,
look at how many people are smiling, hugging, kissing, whatever
it is because of what you've just done on the field.
If you're thinking about that before you go in the game,
(09:00):
you will leave everything on the field. And when you
do that as a group with the talent that we have,
gives you the best chance to move on.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That's beautiful messaging. Does that come from the military structure
you grew up and.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
A little bit from my a little bit from my dad,
But it's really I think we are all, especially in
our industry, so fortunate to get to do what we do.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I mean, whether we win or whether we lose.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
During the season, I am so excited to come to
work every day, and not everybody is fortunate enough to
be able to say that. Some do it because they
have to, and some do it because it puts food
on the table on something. But we and there are
some in my industry that do it for those reasons too.
But I enjoy coming to work every day, and I
don't take that for granted. You know, this industry, as
(09:45):
you know, there's upstairs, downs, there's you know, you come,
you go. But every moment then I'm at this club
with this group. I mean, I don't take it for
granted what I get to do.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Danny Cruz, he is the Louisville City head coach and
they take on Rhode Island Saturday night, seven thirties kickoff
at Lynn Family Stadium. This is it. You're moving beyond you.
This will send you to the conference final. Yeah, yeah,
you gotta go home. We gotta gotta get the job done.
Gotta get this job done though this Saturday night, seven
thirty Lynn Family Stadium. Great talking to you, Danny.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He's about to appreciate you all right.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Back in a minute on news radio. Wait forty w
h A s
You know what News Radio eight forty w h s
Terry miners here. Well, we have a busy Saturday around
the community. Louisville's playing basketball, Bellerman's playing ball, and you
know what happens Saturday evening. Louisville City FC continues in
the Eastern Conference semi finals of the USL Championship Playoffs
at Lynn Family Stadium. The head coach is Danny Cruz
(00:23):
lou City FC. Good to see you, coach, good to
be here. Well, you've enjoyed your stay in Louisville so far.
You've been doing wonderfully. This season's been fantastic. You got
to be feeling pretty good about having these games at home.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I mean, it's a huge advantage when you get to
play in front of our fans in the community, in
that stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're super fortunate about that.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
But we're excited about Saturday, and our hope is that
we can definitely show up and perform in front of
in front.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Of everybody because it's it's do or die time obviously,
and it's Rhode Island. You've had a tie and a
loss to them, so now obviously the only thing remaining
is the thing that's going to happen on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, that's it, just the trifecta, right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You prevail on Saturday in advance and you still get
to stay here, right.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
And we're fortunate enough in the regular season to get
the job done so that if we do continue to
advance in the playoffs, everything goes through Lynn Family Stadium
and a big advantage here.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
At seventeen and one. Though, obviously you know this team
is you know, there's good chemistry here. You've had a
sort of a regular system you've had in place the
whole season. Do you tighten up during playoffs? Do you
limit the amount of practice time for instance, anything change
because it's so critical that everybody's available.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, yeah, I get that question a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I think one of the biggest things we've tried to
focus on this year is making sure that our process
doesn't change. Obviously, there's a lot of emotion that goes
into it when you're playing in such a big game.
But the reality is is I want the players to
understand and they have up to this point, that changing
our process is not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And we have to continue to do the things that we've.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Done over the course of a thirty four game season
because it's put us in the position that we're in now.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And this Rhode Island squad, obviously you've seen them twice.
What's different about them from some of the other opponents
you've had. What do you have to make sure is
in place for Loo City FC?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I think it's one of the biggest teams in
the league from a physical standpoint, and set piece has
become a massive part of this game this weekend, and
we've put maybe a little bit more time into it
this week than we typically would just because of the
size of the opponent.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
But we played them here at home.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I was actually, ironically, despite the score line, really happy
with the performance. From a statistical standpoint. We probably out
performed most of the games at home, believe it or not.
You know, we were coming off of a week on
the road straight seven days of travel, and then had
to play them on a quick turnaround. So I feel
really good about the fact that it's a normal week
(02:59):
for us. We're here at home, you know, again in
front of our fans and making sure that, as I've said,
we continue to do the things that we've been doing
all season put us in the best position to win
the game.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, and your team sleeping in their own bids you hope.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, very true, very true.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
But you want everybody focused. It's like, this is no
time for distractions, even though they'll have family and friends
coming from other places, but still it's it's all about this,
you know, system, staying in the process.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, no, no question.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think the reality is is they put in so
much work for about eleven months now and making sure
that for the next three weeks we stay focused on
the goals at hand, and I have a group that's
incredible when it comes to that. Honestly, this is this
This group of players has been so much fun to
work with and to come in to coach on a
daily basis that there's no doubt in my mind that
(03:52):
they're gonna they're gonna put themselves in a position to
make sure that the level is what we expect on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Night and then on match day. Is it are they
Are they under your thumb the whole day or is
it just kind of you You don't want anybody to
get too nervous, so they just kind of you don't
add any special restrictions or anything.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
No, the only thing that has been a constant, which
it has been every single year, is they'll they'll get
together for the pre match meal, you know, about three
and a half hours before kickoff. But otherwise I want
them to go through you know, some of them obviously
have kids. They want to go on a walk in
the morning, and everybody has their own their own process
within that day. But being at home, you're allowed to
(04:35):
do that, right, and I think that puts you in
the best position mentally and physically to be able to perform.
And when we're on the road, those things kind of change.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You're you're laying in a hotel room for more hours
than you probably should be, So being able to be
here is a big part of that.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
I think that's part of the joy of living too,
is being able to work out of your own base.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Speaking of parenting, yeah, I hear there's a little expansion
in your house.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, little expansion.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, but
we got a little boy already, Santiago. He's four years
old and we got one more on the way. So
my hope is that he can he can come into
this he or she can come into this world and
we can be lifting a trophy.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That's the goal. Would that be awesome? It would be.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It would be when's baby.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Doo mid December. December nineteenth is the plan that's going
to be.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
We'll see shiny new trophy.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It's all fantastic, that's it. Yeah. Obviously the city's love
for Low City FC is intense. They've only won a
couple of these USL titles. Just like that feels good.
The trophy case isn't empty. Yeah, yeah, and that's a
good thing to build upon as well. So do the
players that come in and do any of your former players?
Are they part of the support system?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I think it's a I think it's a great question
there there that we have former players. That one that's
on my coaching staff, Paula up Piccolow.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Never heard of him.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
One that's uh, you know, one of the directors of
our foundation, George David. You know, we've had former players
that we're coaching in the academy that left to take
you know, first team jobs.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But you know, when when you speak to to.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Our owner John Nice, one of the biggest things that
he cares about is is keeping good people within the organization,
and I think we try to do that at Louisville City.
That's a testament to our ownership group, and and obviously
making sure that the culture is what it has been
for quite a long time. And when you have that,
you for me, you you're building something that is bigger
(06:31):
than the individual. You know, And we we have a
group of people involved in our organization that I enjoy
coming to work with every single day, as I said,
and that that's that's not just players. So we're we're
really happy with with where we are at the moment.
But my hope is so many people uh in this
organization this year have done so much and and there
brings me no more joy than being able to to
(06:54):
see the smile on their faces when a ball goes
in the back of the net or we end up
winning a game. It's not just the players, it's not
just the coaching staff, it really is everybody within the organization.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It's Thursday, and usually on this day a lot of
priests and other spiritual leaders will start writing their sermon
for Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
They want to be ready. What do you have ready
for Saturday?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Is it already in your mind. You choreograph these things
in advance. Do you think about it on Saturday morning,
what you're going to say before they go out.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I do think about it.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Typically, I try to reaffirm what I think my messaging
should be or I want it to be on Saturday
when I'm in my office preparing for that.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The one thing that has been a constant.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Theme that is important to me is that our players,
my staff, we don't take an opportunity or a day
for granted, you know. And this year we've had some
unbelievable moments as an organization where we've been fortunate to
have some whether it be kids or whether it be
you know, people that are going through some things be
(07:57):
involved in that, whether they come out on the Friday
or the Thursday. And you know, there's been times where
I show the players. We have this camera at the
top of lim Family State where you can see everything
that's not on TV. And an example I would I
would say is I showed the players probably about two
months ago, we score a goal and there's two kids
(08:18):
down on the on the rail that are celebrated like
you wouldn't believe, screaming, jumping up and down, and what
I want the players to see and it's what I
believe is this is the type of inspiration that you
bring and this is what it means to other people.
And so when we talk to the players, and I'll
probably talk about this on Saturday, it's again not taking
for granted a moment you have the ability to inspire.
(08:38):
I want you to inspire. I want you to not
take for granted two yards, three yards, four yards, because
those yards make a difference. And at the end of
the day, when we were walking off that field, look around,
look at how many people are smiling, hugging, kissing, whatever
it is because of what you've just done on the field.
If you're thinking about that before you go in the game,
(09:00):
you will leave everything on the field. And when you
do that as a group with the talent that we have,
gives you the best chance to move on.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That's beautiful messaging. Does that come from the military structure
you grew up and.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
A little bit from my a little bit from my dad,
But it's really I think we are all, especially in
our industry, so fortunate to get to do what we do.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I mean, whether we win or whether we lose.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
During the season, I am so excited to come to
work every day, and not everybody is fortunate enough to
be able to say that. Some do it because they
have to, and some do it because it puts food
on the table on something. But we and there are
some in my industry that do it for those reasons too.
But I enjoy coming to work every day, and I
don't take that for granted. You know, this industry, as
(09:45):
you know, there's upstairs, downs, there's you know, you come,
you go. But every moment then I'm at this club
with this group. I mean, I don't take it for
granted what I get to do.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Danny Cruz, he is the Louisville City head coach and
they take on Rhode Island Saturday night, seven thirties kickoff
at Lynn Family Stadium. This is it. You're moving beyond you.
This will send you to the conference final. Yeah, yeah,
you gotta go home. We gotta gotta get the job done.
Gotta get this job done though this Saturday night, seven
thirty Lynn Family Stadium. Great talking to you, Danny.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He's about to appreciate you all right.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Back in a minute on news radio. Wait forty w
h A s
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