After our 2-0 defeat by Huntsville City FC in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Head Coach Chris Nugent answered questions from media.
Nugent was asked about his early reflections on the season, the team's performance on the night, his learnings from his first full season in charge and more.
Here's everything he had to say:
on frustration of being shut-out in a defeat at home for the first time since July:
"It wasn't through the lack of trying. We have to remember it's not always a lack of something, it's the other team as well. Their goalkeeper did well and they defended well around their box to really kill off some chances. There's always areas where you can say, 'We could've done this or that'. It's tough to score goals. It's a difficult league. The guys played well, created chances and sometimes it comes together and sometimes it doesn't. I would change this game for any other game during the season, but it's soccer. I can't fault the players, the team and staff. Everyone's been excellent. Unfortunately it's soccer sometimes."
on what he told the players in the locker room:
"Now is not the time for analysis or blame or questions. Everyone hurts right now. I'm proud of them. It's been a pleasure being on the journey with the guys. It's been a long season where we've had some really high moments. Right now it doesn't feel like that, but I know they're there. It would've been great to keep going a bit longer. This didn't happen through the lack of trying. The guys have put the effort in, stayed connected and fought together all year."
on improvements made from last season:
"It's too close to the end of the game right now to reflect. We're still too in it to really feel it. There's been a lot of positivity from the outside. I've had a lot of people text me, people in the game, saying things like, 'You've done amazing. Great job, the club's been fantastic.' It doesn't feel like it when you're right in it. We are part of something so much bigger here. If you look where we were one year ago, five years ago, ten years ago and in a years' time, five years' time, ten years' time, it's all part of it. You have to try and take some comfort in that. We are pushing forward in a very difficult league with some very high-level players behind high-level coaching. You can look at the stats and data of what was positive now with the positions and finishes and some of the achievements of the players, but it's tough to find any consolation in it right now."
on his view of the disallowed goal in the first half:
"I didn't really watch it. They said someone handballed it on the ground. I didn't see it at the time, but there was a lot going on. That was one of the few chances we really created from a set piece. Just the bounce or the timing was off a little bit. I was pleased overall with how the guys played. We defended well. We were comfortable with when they had the ball and with what we were doing. We had two lapses of what we were trying to do and they capitalized."
on if the match played out tactically how he was anticipating it to:
"Yes it played out. We were hoping to be a little bit more successful in certain moments. We knew they would have a lot of the ball. We knew how they were going to look to play through the middle. We had to try and execute the timings of the press in wide areas and I think for the most part we did that. For the two goals, one was a transition and what we planned in the buildup we didn't quite execute at times. It's tough because of course the other team are trying to stop you. They've come in with a plan to play against us. It played out how we expected but we hoped that we could've got some of those moments and they don't get those moments in the game."
on what he's learned as a coach this season and a moment or two that will stick with him:
"The collectiveness and togetherness of the group [will stay with me]. I felt that the club got back and closer to who we are when it comes to the collectiveness and togetherness of the players, the resiliency and adaptability and the fight-to-the-end [mentality]. I was proud to be part of that with them. For other details, I'm probably going to sleep a few nights and go back on it. At the start of the season we wanted to be resilient, and I think we were. We wanted to be flexible, and I think we were. We wanted to be dangerous in moments and I felt we showed a good representation of who we are as a club and city. I'm proud of that. It would've been nice to have three or four more wins, but everyone's going to say the same thing."
on the difficulty of beating a team four times in a row:
"It's tough for everyone to play the same team four times. We knew that going into it. In previoous years you look at any other league and that's always the case; it is difficult to play the same team four times. Sometimes you get the timing of it. There were moments we could've scored and it would've changed things and they could've not scored and it would've changed it, but that's what football comes down to. It comes down to moments and players. We've had plenty of good moments, we just didn't get them tonight."
on his message for Chattanooga FC's supporters:
"They're a huge part of what this is. The love and support is so much bigger than just a Saturday or Sunday night with them. You get the feedback and feeling all the time with the city showing out. It all feels collective and all as one. They've been fantastic all year, in easy moments and difficult moments, at home and on the road. We appreciate all the support, we love it and they are part of what makes this club so special. That's seen from everyone that gets the chance to come here, whether they're playing against us or playing for us, so thank you."
