June 14, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
After an extended break in the middle of the season thanks to a scheduled bye week and a serendipitously timed FIFA International Window, FC Cincinnati is back in action in Sunny Northern California for their 17th match of the 2024 MLS season against San Jose Earthquakes.
As far away from home as they will be this season, FCC departed an extra day early to San Jose to beat the three-hour time difference and trained in “The Capital of Silicon Valley” on Friday. The return to action now comes on the heels of a grueling six-week stretch that will see The Orange and Blue play three double-match weeks leading into League Cup.
“It was a good break. I think it was a good chance for everybody to unwind a little bit and step away. I was pleased with the way we came back. I thought that the first week with small numbers, the intensity was good,” Head Coach Pat Noonan said of the break between matches. “Didn’t overdo it early on after a long break, but got to bigger numbers to begin this week, and I have been really pleased with just the quality of the play after a long break and really with no game last weekend. Sometimes you’re worried about the motivation or the focus of the group, but the guys did a good job.”
The trip out west poses unique challenges for the group that will be looking to rebound from a loss two weeks ago to NashvilleSC, which now feels like a distant memory. While off to a slow start, the San Jose Earthquakes have one of the stronger offensive units with a revamped group of attackers that joined the club after the opening of the 2024 season. Once those attackers joined the organization, there has been a significant swing in performances from San Jose, who is looking to break out from their current last-place position in the league table.
“Like most games that we prepare for (San Jose) is a dangerous opponent,” Noonan said Thursday from Mercy Health Training Center. “I don’t want our group to focus at all about where they are in the standings, because I think it’s not really indicative of the quality that (San Jose) have and the challenges that we’ll face. So that part’s important, because the second you think that you have any type of advantage because of what our position is in the standings, or what our opponent’s position is, you step on the field and understand pretty quickly that that is a poor approach.”
FCC enter the match in second place in the Supporters’…
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