Settled in Arizona for the second leg of Sporting Kansas City's 2020 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy, assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin joined Sports Sunday host Brad Porter last weekend for a compelling discussion on Sports Radio 810 WHB.
In addition to reflecting on his 20-year tenure with Sporting, as a player from 2000-2008 and an assistant since 2009, Zavagnin also provided an insightful preview of an MLS campaign that begins Feb. 29 with a visit to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Having seen his team train for two weeks in the desert sunshine, Zavagnin was prompted to make an interesting comparison between the 2020 Sporting Kansas City team and the 2000 Kansas City Wizards side that went on to win the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield. For context, the 2000 Wizards had finished bottom of the conference the previous year before achieving redemption with Zavagnin and current head coach Peter Vermes as new arrivals to the club.
“There’s something about this group that is generating excitement, both internally and externally. There are many factors for that, and I remember the 2000 team very well—a group that had a lot to prove where we all wore that chip on our shoulder. We wanted to do well and we wanted to prove people wrong.
“I see some similarities in this year’s team as we assemble ourselves. Coming off of the performances of last year, I think we do have something to prove. We’ve made some exciting additions, and we have a core group that believes it underachieved last year. That sense of urgency and motivation—when you add that to the talented players we’ve brought into the roster—I think it’s really creating a lot of excitement.
“We know that each and every team around the league is improving as well, but we’re on a mission this year. Hopefully we put ourselves in a position that we’re more accustomed to being in, which is near the top of the league.”
Zavagnin goes on to shares his thoughts on newcomers such as Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda, the emergence of Gianluca Busio and Sporting's ability to find top-tier goalkeepers a la Tim Melia.
Listen to the full podcast below.
