San Jose's Jungwirth gives harsh self-assessment of "naive" Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes are struggling, and defender Florian Jungwirth pulled no punches in saying so on Saturday.


Winless since opening day, the Quakes are mired in an 0-5-2 rut in the wake of the 1-0 home loss to Portland, leaving them in the Western Conference basement and alone at the bottom of the league table in terms of average points per game.


ā€œIt felt like every week. We don't play good, and the other teams are smarter, more experienced,ā€ Jungwirth told reporters. ā€œYou can't compete if you play like this every week. It's impossible to win games.ā€


The versatile German veteran has been an influential performer since his arrival in San Jose last year and has already chipped in two goals and an assist in 704 minutes this season. His blunt self-evaluation suggests rising frustrations in the Quakesā€™ first campaign under head coach Mikael Stahre.


ā€œIt's too naive,ā€ said Jungwirth of his teamā€™s recent displays. ā€œIt's nothing to do with men's soccer, it's youth soccer, what we play.ā€