Contemporaneous notes from Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff’s media availability after training:
On new Center Back signing Aleksandar Radovanović: There are factors beyond the team’s control (governmental) but they hope to have him here in Austin next week, that’s their hope at this time.
On Owen Wolff: He came back to town last night, and he’s in good health. He will rejoin the team in couple of days. He was impressed by Owen’s backheel goal for the USMNT U-20’s in Europe last week. He was able to watch a recording of it and thought he got good power on that shot, remarking “I never scored one like that in my career.”
On Leo Väisänen: Leo was really happy that the Finnish national team bounced back to get a win in their second game of UEFA qualifying last week. Leo will be back in Austin tomorrow and have a couple of days to recover from the trip, but he is returning in good health.
On the emotional state of the team: He said their is dissappointment with some of the results thus far, but he sees that as a good reaction and a sign that the players have high standards.
On the players loaned to ATXFCII, (regarding the fact that if one can be loaned for the whole season it frees up a roster spot): None of the loans thus far have been permanent. Though he hinted that may be in the cards for Charlie Ascencio.
On what ATXFCII players like David Rodriguez have to do to get called up to the first team: He said he’s looking for consistency in their performances. He mentioned that he too liked David’s performance in the first ATXFCII match and in preseason. He has been with the first team in training along with Sal (Mazzaferro), Joe (Hafferty), Valentin Noël, and CJ Fodrey.
Side Note: I recognized Joe Hafferty and Micah Burton training with the first team today, with Burton given the freshman duties of putting away the equipment at the end of practice.
On the LAFC game coming up: He believes it is now a legitimate rivalry because of the history the two teams have shared thus far.
On Brad Stuver’s generosity and work in the community: Character is important, and Brad’s doing good because of his character, and that raises the level of the culture of the whole team.
Bonus Content: Coach Wolff and Davy Arnaud enjoy Pickle Ball at The Pitch after practice!
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