August 11, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Chicago Red Stars News Release
Chicago Red Stars Defender, Arin Wright, and Head Coach, Chris Petrucelli, met with reporters prior to the team’s match against Angel City FC. The Red Stars take on Angel City for the first time in club history Sunday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and internationally on Twitch.
On how it’s been to be back with the team for Arin and transitioning to a three back (from Claire Watkins)
Arin Wright: Well obviously it’s always good to be back from injury. I don’t know a single player out there that’s like “I love rehab. I love just sitting in the training room and watching training every day.” so obviously it’s great to be back. There’s always trying to mold yourself back into the group when you’ve been gone as long as I have. Six matches I missed, maybe seven. As far as a three back goes, honestly you know me Claire, I’m happy to fill in anywhere the team needs me. My first two games I came back as a wing back, now I’m in the three back and honestly, I’m just here to go into whatever position the team needs me to be successful and I just take it in stride and go with it. I feel like that’s kind of the motto of the team this year. Everyone is taking things in stride this year, plugging in when they need to so we can make it to those final few games.
On particular principals Arin and Alyssa Naeher are trying to implement in the back line with the younger players (from Claire Watkins)
Wright: I think we’ve never really played a three back. This is our first year playing a three back, so honestly it’s a bit of a learning curve for me as well and Alyssa, we’ve always had four in the back. But I think it’s just a little bit of leadership and understanding the different kind of players we’re playing against and their movements as well as keeping spacing in the back line. All that stuff that comes with time and playing in the league and just using our voice to navigate the people in front and next to us and keeping everyone organized. I feel like me and Alyssa are really just trying to do that so we can move as a unit and be collective in our defensive organization.
On preparing the group for the travel and playing in front of a hostile crowd (from Claire Watkins)
Chris Petrucelli: I think there’s two pieces to it. Certainly the preparation during the week, you have to be aware of the fact that there’s some travel involved and…