As St. Louis City SC looks ahead to their upcoming match against Real Salt Lake, here are our three main takeaways from the midweek presser with Head Coach Bradley Carnell, as captured by Y98's broadcaster and sideline reporter, Jennifer Siess
#1 Injury Update: Joakim Nilsson Sidelined with Broken Rib Following coverage of Christian Benteke
Following St. Louis City SC's recent match against DC United, Bradley Carnell addressed the team's defensive lineup, revealing that Joakim Nilsson is sidelined due to a broken rib aggravated during the game against DC United, leaving a void in the defensive roster. Carnell speculated that Nilsson's injury may have been exacerbated by an incident involving former Premier League star Christian Benteke, a towering 6'3" striker known for his physical presence and formidable skill on the field.
Bradley expressed concerns about the challenge presented by Benteke and its potential impact on Nilsson's condition, suggesting,
"Joakim's got a beat-up rib, it's a broken rib, so we're just monitoring that. He's had something that aggravated for the last three or four days or before that, and then playing against Benteke is also a different opponent or a different striker than we usually face."
He also praised the team's defensive effort against Benteke and the team's success in aerial duels, noting,
"I thought we did a great job on Benteke....We got 80% first contact on all set pieces, so it was really good."
However, in a positive turn, Carnell announced the potential return of Tim Parker, emphasizing Parker's influential leadership and the positive energy he brings to the team. Carnell expressed intentions to reintegrate Parker into the defensive lineup, potentially filling the void left by Nilsson's absence and bolstering the team's defensive strategies for upcoming matches. Nilsson is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks as he recovers from his injury.
#2 Optimism Amidst Missed Opportunities
Despite the missed chances, Bradley Carnell finds encouragement in St. Louis City SC's abundance of scoring possibilities, stating,
'I'd rather be in those moments than have them not at all, right?'
He reflects on the team's performance, expressing satisfaction with their progress in various metrics, noting,
'Our (expected goals) xG's in the top third in the league.'
As they continue to refine their play, Carnell emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on these opportunities to secure extra points and propel the team forward in the standings,
'There's a couple of good things to look back on and reflect in terms of our attacking play, final third entry play, and these are things we worked on in the offseason, spoke about as a group, and we want to progress. So now, can we will ourselves on to get those extra points?'
#3 Midfield Developments with Tomas Ostrak and Eduard Löwen
In discussing the team's midfield dynamics, Bradley Carnell shed light on Tomas Ostrak's role,
"Thomas, we're seeing in training every single day, that's his challenge, our challenge to him to bring it on game days,"
Carnell expresses satisfaction with Ostrak's recent contributions, stating,
"I'm glad he gets rewarded, scores the goal against Galaxy, and he's playing good minutes now. He's been working on his fitness issues, so again, he's getting stronger, which is good for all of us,"
Furthermore, Carnell reveals insights into the team's tactical evolution, mentioning the utilization of a diamond formation involving players like Ostrak and Eduard Löwen. He elaborates on the versatility of these midfielders, noting,
'They're not really 10s, they're not really 6s, so can you find this balance? Thomas Ostrak does a little bit of both that Edu does while it is missing.'
Stay updated on St. Louis CITY SC's MLS journey with KMOX Sports. Next, catch Joey Zanaboni, Dale Schilly, and Jennifer Siess broadcasting live from America First Field on March 30th as St. Louis CITY SC takes on Real Salt Lake. Tune in to Y98 for the coverage.