SANDY, Utah — Will he stay or will he go? Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis simply isn’t saying anything about his future.
Asked on Friday about a recent SI.com report indicating expansion team New York City FC are hoping to make Kreis their head coach ahead of their 2015 debut season in MLS, RSL's man in charge said he is only focused on the present.
"I want to be clear here and say: Nothing from me has changed," Kreis told reporters after the team's training. "As I said two weeks ago, my focus is completely on the team. I focus on doing everything I can to prepare the team to win an Open Cup, to challenge for a Supporters' Shield and hopefully get ourselves in a position to win an MLS Cup.
"And just because somebody comes out with an article yesterday, it doesn't change my position. That is exactly where I have been and that's where I will continue to be through the end of the season."
Kreis was then asked specifically if he met with representatives of NYCFC, which is majority-owned by Manchester City of the English Premier League. The SI.com report alleged that Kreis traveled to England to speak with team officials. But he responded that he wasn't concerned or willing to discuss any aspect other than finishing the 2013 MLS season with RSL, the team he's led since May 2007.
"My thinking right now is that I need to stay focused on the team," he said. "Just as any player on the team that would come out about a contract.
"We need to stay focused on doing everything we can right now to take advantage of these terrific opportunities in front of us," he continued. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here, for us to potentially win three things. So my focus is very, very seriously intently on that, and that only."
Real Salt Lake are currently one point behind Seattle for the Supporters' Shield and host San Jose on Saturday (9 pm ET, MLS Live). They also host D.C. United on Oct. 1 in the US Open Cup final.
