Portland Thorns at Utah Royals: Media Availability with Deyna Castellanos and Rob Gale

With the international break now concluded, the Portland Thorns will return to play this Friday on the road against the Utah Royals.

Photographer: Kelsey Baker

The Portland Thorns are back this Friday at 7 p.m. on the road against the Utah Royals on Prime Video.

Deyna Castellanos

On being away from the Venezuela Women's National Team due to “travel uncertainty.” 💔

DC: I don't know when I'll be safe to travel. Obviously, the situation here and in Venezuela, like the political situation, is very tricky. So for me, I have a responsibility here. Obviously, I'm under a contract and the uncertainty of like, ‘yeah, I can go home, but not knowing if I can come back’ is something that is very scary, not just for me, but players are across the the league. It was very sad, I couldn't go with the national team, but I think it was the right decision for me to stay and just keep training and growing here. But like, mainly to be able to stay and keep playing here in the U.S.

On adjusting to new roles, her positioning on the pitch, and preparation.

DC: I think it's fun. I think obviously, we have a lot of quality players in the midfield. And I think it's very fun that we all can rotate and play in different positions. And in that way, like we are also not that predictable about, like, who is going to play where. So and I think also like, we all are very capable of adapting to any position that Rob wants us, in that day. So I think is an advantage for for us has a team.

I mean, I already knew that was going to be the role like for me to play anywhere in the midfield or like in the attacking line, I think that's a great like quality that this team really has.

Just having, like, variety of situations and like a scenarios like for us to create and for us like to find our best shape. I think it's very exciting.

On the early scoring troubles - two goals in first three games

DC: Yeah, that's a good question. Obviously, that's something that we're being working on. I think the positive side is that we are being creating a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances. We just need to finalize. But the positive is that we are in the box and we are creating and we have a lot of opportunities now. Obviously that's something that we want to improve, and not just our forwards, but also, like, our midfield line and everybody on the team that because we all were capable of scoring and yeah, like, is a topic that we have been talking a lot about.

On how the locker room is feeling right now

DC: We are very, very happy. Also, like, we're very happy that almost every single player that went away with the national team are here, so it feels more like a family again. But we are also, very proud of all our players that represent their countries and they are doing something special for their nation. So the positive side about the last game is still here. We still with the same energy. Obviously, we want to win. We want to do a great game and that's the mentality. I think, like the players that we stay here, we were doing the job, and we were working very hard, like for us to accomplish that goal this weekend.

Rob Gale

Photographer: Kelsey Baker

On internationals returning back to Portland and Mackenzie Arnold’s status

RG: Yeah, just returning back to market now for assessments. So Mackenzie, Torpey, Hina, Jessie, Mimi, Sam, and Isa all arriving today, so we will not see them on the grass until tomorrow, just for the one prep session. So they'll come in this afternoon, be assessed: medical and physical - try and get some massage, some recovery work in, knowing that it's a match day plus two for them tomorrow, which is typically when they're most fatigued, but it's the only day we'll have to work with them to prep for Utah. So, yeah, all of those assessments will be taken care of this afternoon.

Mimi Alidou’s status

RG: Yes. Visa background check, all good. And as I say, she'll be arriving in our market for the first time, for a first training session with the group tomorrow.

On facing Utah Royals away from home in the altitude and with internationals just now returning

RG: I mean, it's so difficult to balance with the first game, so it's going to be how ready we can get the players that we would like to be on the field, and how many of those is possible. The good part is the ones who maybe haven't featured as much, could be called upon, either from the start or to finish the game. I've had a good amount of work in the time between.

But when you go there, it's a challenging place with the altitude. We're only going in late tomorrow after training here to change that up, which should help with a little bit of the recovery for the players to sleep in their own bed again and minimize the time on the road. So it's a team like you said, new coach came in last year. They're very high in their pressing and their organization. They love to jump and come at you. So we're going to have to be very good on the ball and continue to put out the offensive output we've done through the first three games in the season, where I think we're in the top two for expected goal so far.

Update on third assistant coach

RG: We think they'll be in Portland by the weekend, but not quite enough time to be at this game. So Seattle will be their their first game, and that announcement should be coming out early next week.

On goal scoring troubles in the first three games of the season

RG: 51 shots through three games, I think we're the highest, or we're certainly in the top two at that.

It's a lot of new or young players now with that responsibility. It's not Sophia Smith/Wilson up there for us. So I think for them, it's trying to reiterate that they're doing the right things. Keep their confidence, make sure they're not second guessing their abilities. Because you've seen that, Reilyn has had some clear goal scoring opportunities, some she's created for herself. You know, she took one of them, but the keeper stood on her head for Angel City. Last game, again, Pietra [and] Caiya, opportunities are being created these by youngsters, and we just want them to know that they have our trust, that they're creating the chances - we're winning the ball back in higher areas up the field, which is leading to more pressures and more opportunities. And if you continue to do those right things, you will get rewarded.

A lot of work on the on the practice field, especially while the others have been away - continued repetitions in front of the goal. They have the talent. It's just the composure that calmness in the madness of the game. We talk about it at speed, on demand under pressure, is a lot different to college football and what they faced in the past, where maybe their physical qualities have given them that extra yard or two, so just got to continue to be a little bit patient. But as a team, make sure that we're still principally on track doing the right things, creating goal scoring opportunities. And then, you know, football will find its way to reward the teams that are creating those opportunities.

On Bella Bixby potentially returning as a starter with Mackenzie “Macca” Arnold’s uncertainty (arm injury).

RG: I mean, you know, remarkable. I said to Bella, the fact that she was out almost at full training back in November last year just shows that the work she's put in.

It's an absolute testament to Bella that she is in contention.

And with Jordan's [Felgate] arrival now was the goalkeeping coach the last couple of weeks, the ability to do more individual stuff. Had a great conversation with her this week, just saying, you know, how close are you to getting back to what what you feel you're capable of? And to be fair to Bella, she's very, very honest. She said, I probably haven't seen the best Bella Bixby.

I came in in 23 it was a tougher year for her, and getting back that sharpness after the high of 22 where she was so good, and that's her goal.

I can't say enough good things about Bella in the work that she's done, the support system that we've got the club, and Lauren [Swords - Associate Athletic Trainer] and the staff behind the scenes have really worked closely with her to try and get her back to a level and to try and get her to reestablish herself as the elite athlete that you know she has been all her life. So yeah, it's been great to see, delighted with her progress. These last 10 days have been excellent for her, and I know if called upon, she'll be ready, and we have a full faith in their abilities.

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