First and foremost, preseason results account for very little in the grand scheme of things. After all, the Quakes went undefeated during preseason in 2018, including lopsided wins over the LA Galaxy and Reno 1868 FC.
However, things can certainly be learned by a team’s performance through January and February and Quakes fans should be feeling good about their team heading into Saturday’s season opener.
Two things that can be pointed to as key factors for last season’s demise were physical fitness and a less-than-perfect mentality. The team wasn’t out of shape per se but conceded so many goals in the waning moments of matches that it seems they may have simply run out of steam towards the final whistle. Also, as many players after spoken about this offseason, 2018 evoked a sense of ‘here we go again’ when conceding one goal, leading to a second and sometimes a third not long after.
Those two problems should be long gone under the new regime. Head coach Matias Almeyda and strength and conditioning coach Guido Bonini put the team through an exhaustive training camp, including two-a-day training sessions and wind sprints in sand. Every time the players thought they were done, there was one more to do.
Almeyda has stressed from day one the importance of a strong mentality, both in good times and bad. The players should never get too high or too low based on factors out of their control. Last Saturday’s match was the best opportunity to see this new mindset in action.
“It was just not being a victim,” Nick Lima said postgame. “I think last time, last year there were times when we thought we were the victims, and we weren’t able to dig deep or just keep doing what we were doing.”
After conceding one goal against the run of play and a second on a questionable offsides call, or non-call as it were, the Quakes could have packed up shop and returned to the locker room attempting to close out the preseason uninjured. But instead, San Jose fought back through two penalty kicks, drawing a red card in the process and nearly finding a winner on numerous occasions.
“Overall I am pleased,” said Almeyda postgame. “We are looking for a style. We’re looking to be aggressive, be on the offensive, take risks when we have the ball. Despite being down by two goals, I valued the attitude in the players – it was a big change.”
This Saturday’s match against the Montreal Impact kicks off at 6:45 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC Sports California. Tickets are available here.
