Gotham Pre match Quotes of Orlando Semifinal

From Gotham FC

Gotham FC Press Conference Top QuotesSaturday, November 15, 2025Juan Carlos Amorós, head coachLilly Reale, defenderSarah Schupansky, midfielderHEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS AMORÓSOn the semifinal matchup against the Orlando PrideDifficult game, playing the champions from last year of the double the shield, the championship,in their home ground. There are always difficult conditions here in Orlando as well with theweather – something that we need to be fully prepared for. It's going to be a big challenge, butat the same time one that the team is prepared for. We've worked really hard this week to makesure that we are ready to be ourselves out there and to play the game that we know we can playand hopefully get one of those tickets to go to the final. I think now Washington is confirmed tobe there, so hopefully we can also secure that spot.On the biggest difference between the Orlando team Gotham beat in August and the team thatbeat Seattle last week?There is, player-wise, (Orlando coach Seb Hines) is doing a fantastic job with that group. Theyalso have one of the best players in the world with Barbara Banda. I think they had to redefinewho they are a little bit without her because she was an important part of the way they played,and they've done a fantastic job. Now after that period of maybe uncertainty, they've been ableto find the form. They're able to be adaptable. I think now with the signing of (Jacquie Ovalle)and Marta has always taken a lot of responsibility, they've been able to to perform a very highlevel. They also have players there like Haley McCutcheon and Emily Sams and AnnaMoorhouse, players who maybe don't get as much praise as they deserve, but they keep theteam going, and I think they're a very, very solid team. They showed that last week. They wonthe game in the end comfortably against Seattle, and I'm sure they really want to win again toget that final. So, credit to Seb, to the players for getting to this point. They've been fantastic.We respect them as the champions that they are, and we know we're going to have to workreally hard tomorrow out there to take them out.On Lilly Reale’s standout rookie seasonIt's her maturity and her desire to win and to get better now. She's very mature. She wants theteam to win. She's going to do whatever it takes, and she's also going to do the same. Shewants herself to win and do whatever it takes to be better. That's something that is reallyexcellent, and she's been able to adapt to a new position to push to really solidify herself with uson the fullback position but also on the national team. She's a strong defender. She's a super fitplayer that is understanding the game every day a little bit better. And I think that's what ishelping her to grow at such a quick rate this year.DEFENDER LILLY REALEOn the semifinal matchup against the Orlando PrideThe last game [against Kansas City] was a super big win. We're just trying to carry thatmomentum [into] this game, and then figure out things that we can capitalize on and clean up.It's really just keeping that momentum going and putting our best foot forward into theseplayoffs.On how the veterans of the squad have helped the rookies manage the playoffsThe regular season is its own beast, but I think playoffs just carries a different weight and itreally just leaves it so that anything can happen. It's a really fresh start for every team. Beingable to, like Sarah [Schupansky] said, rely on players that have been through some of theseexperiences and the chaos of it all before and just being able to have their guidance whenyou're a little bit stressed [helps]. The season's long, so just being able to lock in for these lastcouple weeks is challenging, but it also is that much easier when you have people around youto help out.On how her experiences in the youth and college level have helped her prepare for professionalsoccerGrowing up in Hingham was awesome. I didn't live there until high school, so I definitely [hadsome] different experiences. Being able to grow up in the Northeast was awesome and it's a bigpart of why I chose Gotham. Being able to come back after UCLA and live back on theNortheast, there's just a culture here that – and I've said this countless other times, but just thegrit and passion and the aggressiveness that a lot of Northeast teams carry into their style ofplay. It's something that I definitely noticed in Gotham before getting here. Being able to add tothat is something that I really value. Playing here has been an incredible experience. [I’m] stilllearning a lot, but it's definitely been awesome.MIDFIELDER SARAH SCHUPANSKYOn the semifinal matchup against the Orlando PrideThis is both [myself and Lilly Reale’s] first time in an NWSL playoff experience. Being in thisenvironment is super fun and super exciting. It also takes a lot of focus and a lot of drive, andhaving those experienced players around us to show us what it takes to be successful in thesemoments is really helpful as well.On how having a big contingent of rookies is helpful in navigating her first experience in playoffsIt's huge to have people in the same shoes as you to lean on and to just bounce ideas off of. Allof us are so supportive of each other on and off the field. As important as it is to have all of thatexperience around us, having the comfort and knowing that there's people that are goingthrough this for the first time as well is very comforting and very reassuring.On the conversations among the team after the Kansas City win and shifting focus to OrlandoThe regular season has prepared us for moments like this. There's so much turnaround, andbeing in other tournaments like the Concacaf W Champions Cup, we're playing three games aweek at times. We really have to continuously flip the switch and refocus and focus on the nextopponent. The staff does a great job of getting us ready for that next match. Right when thegame ended last week, Rose [Lavelle] was like, ‘we can celebrate today, but we have anothergame to worry about in a couple days. We have another team that we have to come out and putour best foot forward against.’ From the staff to the experienced players, they're just constantlymotivating us and making sure that our focus is on the next test at hand, not on previoussuccesses, as awesome as they might have been.1 / 397%Details