NYCFC Preseason: Matt Freese Interview & San Diego FC Match Highlights

Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to today's press conference at the Coachella Valley Invitational

We have goalkeeper Matt Fries. Matt Fries was actually called up to his first U.S. Men's National Team Camp in January

If you have any questions, please raise your hand. We'll get started with Scott

Hey, Matt, how are you? Scott Church from Street Film Soccer, and Happy New Year

This is now your third season with the team. Talk a little bit about how different it is this year versus, say, the first two. Thanks

Hey, Scott. Yeah, it's, I mean, I think at this point, a big chunk of the players and a big group of the players

have been together now for several years. And I think, you know, the first year where, you know

guys kind of came throughout the year, and then second year still getting used to each other

still learning and understanding each other a little bit better. So I think we're in a really good spot in terms of continuity this year

And that may be different from the last few years. And then obviously with Pascal coming in, it's a really energetic atmosphere

A lot of hard work that we'll be doing and have already started to do

And hopefully a lot of rewards and benefits to come from that hard work

Alex? Eduardo, go ahead

Oh, thank you. My apologies. No problem. We'll come back to you, Alex

We'll go with Eduardo first. Okay. Hey, hey, Matt. Eduardo with 365 Obamania

Thank you for your time. Going back to the San Diego FC game, how did that feel to stop San Diego FC star striker Irving Lozano

And was that game as expected and how did you prepare for that? Thank you

Yeah, it was a good game, good preseason game. I think it was pretty typical for a preseason game

They were super well organized. Not saying that I'm surprised at that

you know that's not a not a hit against them or anything but for a team to have you know only been

together for three four weeks to be that organized and have that much of a clear identity is really

impressive and and on our end you know we we did our thing took care of business some some really

good team goals really good vision from Justin on the second goal fantastic goal from Alonzo on the

third one So yeah in all I thought it was a really good test and kind of shows how I think our longevity and our mentality will be able to come through not just for you first 45 or first 60 minutes but for all 90 minutes which is really important in this league

Thank you. Alex, go ahead. My apologies for earlier. Hi, Matt. This is Alex Winley from AM New York

From a goalkeeper's perspective, how has a defensive unit progressed throughout the season

and what's been the biggest point of emphasis for you guys? Thank you. I think the defense looks in a great spot right now as a whole

Obviously, a few injuries here and there, but everyone that's stepped up and played has done really well so far in preseason

I think intensity and communication is a very big part in what we're all trying to preach to each other

building the right habits, you know, when we're in possession of the ball

having good rest defense and being proactive defensively, and then, you know, making sure with the ball that we're smart

that we're confident, I think is another big piece because ultimately we want to find overloads

and from the back we want to expose the other team. Michael and then Oliver

Hey, Matt, it's Mike Andrew from Blue City Radio. Thanks for the time

Curious on your thoughts about preparation during the preseason. Do you have a perspective on is it better to obviously always want to win every game

but when you're trying out new tactics, are you okay conceding the three goals against St. Louis

because you're trying out different guys or trying out different things? Yeah, I mean, I think in any game you ever step foot in, you want to win

I think going into the season, certainly on this Saturday, is a game that we really want to win and going into the season strong

following a win. With that said, yeah, I mean, there's new tactics that we're employing

and new people and learning how each person works, as well as getting experience for a lot of really, really talented

less experienced younger guys. And that's really, really valuable experience for them

during these games to not only develop themselves, but also put themselves in the right spot

with a new manager. And so, you know, leading forward, I think it's a great group of, you know

experienced talent and younger talent that can, you know, hopefully achieve real things

for this year and years to come. Oliver? Hi, thank you. This is Oliver Strand with Hudson River Blue

Last year, 2024, was a pretty spectacular year for you. It was your first full year as a starter and you established yourself as one of the best goalkeepers in the league But now to ask a question like I guess for an overachiever what do you want to work on

What do you want to improve in 2025? What are you looking to do to your game to level up this year

Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, I thought it was a good year

I think, you know, the goals that I have for myself, they require a lot more than one good year

So I'm looking forward to, you know, improving everything, every aspect of my game in possession, shot stopping, you know, proactive goalkeeping from crosses and wide spaces, decision making

And then I also think a big part of it for this year, a big emphasis will be, you know, working together as a defensive unit to limit the opponent's chances, limit the shots against

you know I think being able to rely on the guys in front of me

doing their job which they've been doing a great job at will you know kind of

continue to allow me to you know keep doing my job as well Roberto

Hi Matt how are you? Hello So when you were in the U.S. camp, and obviously you didn't play

but obviously you got a chance to practice a lot and be with the guys and be with the coaches, was there anything special that you got out of it

that maybe you didn't have before you went into that camp? Yeah, I mean, there's always things to learn

Yeah, there's always things to learn. a lot of goalkeeping philosophies that I learned

goalkeeping tactics and techniques. And I think a big part of it for me

it was also putting myself up against the other guys in the league

who are in that position and who are pushing for national team call-ups in time

and putting myself in the spot to learn that I can be there

and I have the talent to be there and to put myself in a spot

to kind of reinvigorate myself to make sure I'm there every time

Andrew? Hi, Matt. Andrew Lee with Hudson River Blue. I wanted to ask, change in the Gold Keeper group

with Luis Barraza going to DC United and Greg Ranjitsen coming in

does that sort of create any extra level of internal competition? like you sense among the guys that are returning and they like more competition to be the sort of next person up if you not available to play kind of thing and like what is the feeling amongst

the group knowing that it's slightly different from the personnel that you had a year ago? Yeah I mean I think Greg's been a fantastic addition. Greg and I've known each other for

years and he's fit in perfectly with the group that we have. You know it's pretty funny to know

that three out of the four of us have been together at different points in our careers

And so it's a really, really great group, really tight-knit group. And I think we're all invested in each other's success

And with that said, there's always competition for every single place. There's no day that you can take for granted, no day that you can take off

So, you know, in whatever position you're asking about, there's always competition

Christian? Hi, Matt. Pascal has a very strong reputation for developing players

I'm just curious how your early experiences have been to the exposure of his ideas, his methods, that type of thing

Yeah, I mean, it's been fantastic. you know kind of from from minute one of me meeting him I recognize that he is a very

you know very confident and speaks with a lot of authority in a really you know in a really good way

not in a not in a bossy way but in a personable way that the guys are just kind of naturally

drawn to and naturally inclined to follow him you know it's a it's a really good balance there

that he's found. Yeah, I know he has a very impressive track record

of developing young players, and I'm sure that he'll do the same here. We have a ton of young talent

and really looking forward to the way he maximizes that, continues to develop the young talent that we have

Anyone else? I can go again, if that's okay. Go ahead. yeah Matt the club also released the new kit this week

I'm curious if you have any strong opinions on it and any maybe early memories you had as a kid

of that first shirt that you got and maybe the name on the back of it the first goalkeeper kit I ever got

was a Buffon white and black striped kit that's funny that you ask about that

yeah it's a good I think I still have it actually I love the new kit that we have

I think it's kind of a good mix of new ideas, new design

as well as sticking to some of the historical legacy type colors that we have

So I'm really excited to watch the guys in front of me wear it

I'm not going to wear it myself. Wait until you see the goalkeeper kit

It's pretty cool. Great. Thank you, everybody. Recording stopped