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We're Feeling Confident, Says Williams
by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365
Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams has declared the squad full of belief and ready to atone for the mistakes made in last season's final four by winning in Chicago on Saturday to clinch the franchise's first MLS Cup berth.
The Royal Army were tripped up at the final hurdle by the visiting New York Red Bulls in the 2008 Western Conference final. A year later, in part thanks a late surge to squeak into the postseason, RSL head east to once again stand one game away from Major League Soccer's grand prize game.
The clubhouse attitude is different this time, with barely a celebration taking place when they swept out defending champs Columbus in the first round. This time, reaching a conference final isn't enough and Real Salt Lake has more in the locker.
"We tasted it last year, especially being at home in the conference final against New York," Williams told Soccer365. I think we kind of overestimated that we'd just walk into the final, and they came in and got their goal and locked up shop."
"It's still fresh in our heads. We know we're in the same spot as last year because until we... " he pauses, shifting thought as if deking a defender before firing away. "Nobody is going to rejoice just for reaching the conference final. We did that last year."
It seems that RSL is doing a lot of things they did last year, such as finishing the campaign strong and a little playoff road wizardy after winning just two away games in the regular season.
The year was a bit of a struggle for coach Jason Kreis' men, but like last season, they snatched a playoff bid and the Rocky Mountain Cup away from arch rivals Colorado with late heroics. As Williams attests, they are flying high at the right time.
"I think our confidence came up all the sudden," he says. "We were playing well on the road, even when we were losing, which is what gets results."
"We know we're a good team. And if you keep pounding on the door, eventually it's going to open for you."
"Even when we were down 2-0 to Columbus (in the second leg) last week, we knew that if we continued playing the way we were playing, it was going to come," Williams stated. "We worked hard for a result and we got one."
To change course from last season's, however, Real Salt Lake must now best the Fire away. To do that, the veteran playmaker says they need the ball.
"Possess the ball in midfield and limit their chances," began the winning recipe of Williams, who notched in assist in 70 minutes as Chicago dropped the 2003 MLS Cup to San Jose. "Keep an eye on Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and guys like Chris Rolfe and Marco Pappa."
"We're confident in ourselves that, front to back, we have a team to possess the ball. That's where we get our chances."
"We have three forwards - Robbie (Findley), Yura (Movsisyan) and Fabian (Espindola) - and they are all in form right now," he said. "We just need to make it simple and be hopeful."
If they can do that, Williams figures the story line will divert just so this time, and the last original Real Salt Lake player will get to raise the team's first MLS trophy.
"I would love to bring the championship here because the fans have gone to hell and back with the team we had the first two years," he recalled.
"They stuck with us and it would only be right for them to be able to celebrate with the team. It would be really special to be a part of that."
by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365
Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams has declared the squad full of belief and ready to atone for the mistakes made in last season's final four by winning in Chicago on Saturday to clinch the franchise's first MLS Cup berth.
The Royal Army were tripped up at the final hurdle by the visiting New York Red Bulls in the 2008 Western Conference final. A year later, in part thanks a late surge to squeak into the postseason, RSL head east to once again stand one game away from Major League Soccer's grand prize game.
The clubhouse attitude is different this time, with barely a celebration taking place when they swept out defending champs Columbus in the first round. This time, reaching a conference final isn't enough and Real Salt Lake has more in the locker.
"We tasted it last year, especially being at home in the conference final against New York," Williams told Soccer365. I think we kind of overestimated that we'd just walk into the final, and they came in and got their goal and locked up shop."
"It's still fresh in our heads. We know we're in the same spot as last year because until we... " he pauses, shifting thought as if deking a defender before firing away. "Nobody is going to rejoice just for reaching the conference final. We did that last year."
It seems that RSL is doing a lot of things they did last year, such as finishing the campaign strong and a little playoff road wizardy after winning just two away games in the regular season.
The year was a bit of a struggle for coach Jason Kreis' men, but like last season, they snatched a playoff bid and the Rocky Mountain Cup away from arch rivals Colorado with late heroics. As Williams attests, they are flying high at the right time.
"I think our confidence came up all the sudden," he says. "We were playing well on the road, even when we were losing, which is what gets results."
"We know we're a good team. And if you keep pounding on the door, eventually it's going to open for you."
"Even when we were down 2-0 to Columbus (in the second leg) last week, we knew that if we continued playing the way we were playing, it was going to come," Williams stated. "We worked hard for a result and we got one."
To change course from last season's, however, Real Salt Lake must now best the Fire away. To do that, the veteran playmaker says they need the ball.
"Possess the ball in midfield and limit their chances," began the winning recipe of Williams, who notched in assist in 70 minutes as Chicago dropped the 2003 MLS Cup to San Jose. "Keep an eye on Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and guys like Chris Rolfe and Marco Pappa."
"We're confident in ourselves that, front to back, we have a team to possess the ball. That's where we get our chances."
"We have three forwards - Robbie (Findley), Yura (Movsisyan) and Fabian (Espindola) - and they are all in form right now," he said. "We just need to make it simple and be hopeful."
If they can do that, Williams figures the story line will divert just so this time, and the last original Real Salt Lake player will get to raise the team's first MLS trophy.
"I would love to bring the championship here because the fans have gone to hell and back with the team we had the first two years," he recalled.
"They stuck with us and it would only be right for them to be able to celebrate with the team. It would be really special to be a part of that."
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