CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia knew exactly what they were getting when they hired Peter Nowak to be the franchise’s first-ever manager. Sure enough, the Union were physical and fought hard.
But they showed their youth in 2010, too. MLSsoccer.com sat down with Nowak to discuss the highs and lows of Philly’s first season, and what to expect heading into 2011.
MLSsoccer.com: What is your overall assessment of how the team played in 2010?
Nowak: We all believe that we deserved better. The way we played and appeared on the field, we made the necessary changes to make a final push for the playoffs. My only thing is that people sometimes forget 12 of our first 15 were away games. You could see how difficult it was for some of the guys, young guys especially.
Regardless of that, I think we were very close to the pack before some tough matches game. I think we were right there as we were only six points from teams that eventually did make the playoffs. Then we had trouble taking those necessary steps to win the next game and then the next game. I wouldn’t say we were disappointed, but it comes with many factors like experience and facing such a long season.
[inlinenode:314702]From the many positives though – starting the franchise, getting the group together, the way we played – from this perspective, it was a fantastic year.
From the flip side, they’ll have this feeling that we were right there and in the final moments, we didn’t make it. It was very tough, but was also a great experience for the last 15 months. We’ll take all the experiences that we had and try to make it better.
MLSsoccer.com: What went right for the team?
Nowak: I think that the way we played. When the season started, some people tried to put the tag on us that we are just a physical team. As soon as they recognized it’s not just the physicality of the play but it’s also the quality of the play, I think that changed the perspective of the team as we are. As we opened the stadium, every team that came here, heard it. Regardless of the results, it was quite an experience.
The fan base, with the people around us and the front office have done something special. We’ve built a foundation. When you think about the Philadelphia Union, certain qualities will come to mind, the certain values and principles and the atmosphere. The whole package is right there. In some cases with an expansion team, they take a long while to get established. We did it in eight months. That’s the great thing that we will look back on.”
MLSsoccer.com: What do you think went wrong?
Nowak: As we all knew, the way we played and the way we created chances were all very positive. We knew all along that it was going to take time for the team to get together. We went through the pains of making mistakes – I believe 70 percent of the goals we gave away were preventable. If we can prevent those goals and those mistakes, then we are a much harder team to score against.
[inlinenode:316681]Most of the goals that we scored were really nice and you’d have trouble preventing those. That kind of proportion needs to change. You have to make saves when there is a save to be made. You have to make a tackle when you have necessary tackles to make. We just went through pains and now we have to make it better.
From the good side, we always created chances and had enough chances to win the games. Now, as I said, we only had seven points on the road and 24 at home. Normally you do the same amount for both, which could have been 48 and we would have been in the playoffs. That needs to change. The first 12 games on the road weren’t easy, but we have to make sure the boys are going to be prepared. We just always need to be ready to play and that’s the goal for next season as well.
MLSsoccer.com: Would you have done anything differently looking back?
Nowak: You always have a 1,000 ideas going into the season. The coaching staff and I really ran a three-man show during the whole 15 months. We did this so we could really understand what we’d have to do in the next year and in the next year after that. It was good to see firsthand, even though in some cases it was a lot of work. It was also good to see the situations that we need someone here and someone there, maybe we need this, maybe we need that. It was good to get that kind of experience that will definitely help us push for the next season.
Analyzing after the season, we did already sit down and talk but I believe we did everything possible to make this team successful. Starting in a good way from playing and the image of the team and their characteristics were fantastic. We’re very close as a team, but we need to take the necessary steps to improve and we will.
MLSsoccer.com: Are the playoffs realistic for next season?
Nowak: As you’ve seen in the Champions League this season, a Polish team [Lech Poznan] beat Manchester City 3-1. Money cannot buy you championships. It’s about the heart, the team, the group who understand each other and fight for each other. They know that this their goal. In our league, everybody can beat everybody. It’s not the way that it is in some tournaments. We travel a lot, it’s a long season and you have to be ready for it.
When we try to assemble the group, we looked not only at the qualities on the field, but also that the group will come together and that they will understand each other and work for each other. That philosophy will not change. If everything goes well, we will even develop more as a group and mature as a group then of course, anything I possible. The goal will be to a contender for the playoffs.
MLSsoccer.com: What’s been your favorite part of being team manager of the Philadelphia Union?
Nowak: The Doop Song. The goal celebration song. I think we find together with our fans when we met before the season started. We wanted to find the right way of celebrating together. There were a lot of ideas coming and going. When we met, I said that the most important thing is that when anyone comes to our stadium from two years old to 95 to 105 they need to know that this is our song. That’s not going to change.
Everyone can sing it, regardless of age, regardless of profession and everyone will identify this franchise, this club. When I got to hear the song it was always my favorite moment and I’m sure that will be the same for many seasons to come.
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