D.C. United Travels to Charlotte Under Interim Coach Kevin Flanagan After Sacking Coach Troy Lesesne

By Denis Gomez

D.C. United parted ways with former Head Coach Troy Lesesne and Assistant Coach Zach Prince following a U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal defeat against Nashville SC on Wednesday, July 9. In the wake of this major change, the club has turned to Interim Head Coach Kevin Flanagan to lead the team on an interim basis as they navigate a busy stretch of away matches and search for a permanent replacement.

Ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Charlotte FC, Payne and defender Kai addressed the media to discuss the team’s current mindset, injury concerns, and preparations for the remainder of the season.

Injury and Suspension Updates

Flanagan acknowledged that nearly every player is dealing with some level of fatigue or minor injury after a grueling stretch of matches that included extensive travel. One of the main concerns remains Christian, who is being monitored after experiencing muscular tightness — the same issue that kept him out of the starting lineup recently.

The squad is also facing a shortage at outside back due to yellow card suspensions. Flanagan noted that the coaching staff is considering different tactical solutions, including shifting to a three-back system or using direct replacements, with decisions to be finalized closer to game day.

Kai on Leadership Changes and Looking Ahead

Kai reflected on last week’s emotional departure of Lesesne and Prince, describing it as "pretty upsetting" for the entire team. "It’s never nice when anyone loses their job anywhere in the world," he said. "Unfortunately, in football, you don’t have much time to dwell on the past. We’re focused on tomorrow night and Saturday."

With Flanagan stepping in and a new permanent coach expected soon, Kai emphasized that the squad is focused on taking it "game by game" and slowly building momentum. He acknowledged that it can be challenging to adjust to different instructions and playing styles, but stressed that the group is committed to improving.

Building Toward the World Cup

Kai also addressed his aspirations with the Australian national team as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He expressed excitement about playing two upcoming friendlies in North America this fall — one against the United States in Colorado and another against Canada in Montreal.

"It’s pretty exciting," he said. "I think my main goal is just to be in and around the squads leading up to that and hopefully get some games. It starts with club form, so hopefully myself and the team can start picking up wins and get into better form to put myself in the best position possible."

Defensive Struggles and Points of Emphasis

Discussing D.C. United’s recent struggles, Kai acknowledged the team’s inability to deliver a consistent 90-minute performance as a major issue. "We’ve shown glimpses where we get on top and play good stuff, but we just can’t maintain it for 90 minutes," he explained. "We want to put together a full game where afterward we can say, ‘Wow, that was really good,’ and build from there."

On the defensive side, he admitted that keeping clean sheets has been a challenge, impacting confidence across the backline. "Midweek we threw away a 2-0 lead and copped five unanswered — that’s not acceptable at any level," he said. "If we keep clean sheets, more often than not we’re going to win games, so that’s been our focus."

Preparation for Charlotte FC

Kai emphasized that the team has reviewed film from their previous Open Cup match against Charlotte, despite planning to play in a different formation this time. "We’ve worked on a couple of things on the training pitch these last couple of days to minimize their threats," he said. "We’ve also done screen time to analyze how they go forward and how to combat that."

Personal Reflections and Message to Fans

When asked about his skill as a tackler, Kai traced it back to his transition from attacking positions to defense earlier in his career. "As I moved further back, I did more tackling and ended up at center back," he shared. "If you can poke one away and help the team transition, it makes a big difference."

Kai closed with a heartfelt message to the fans. "Thank you so much for your continued support and for being patient," he said. "We really want to finish strong for you guys and give you hope and optimism for the end of this season and the next. We really do appreciate the support that you continue to give us."

Flanagan will look to obtain his first win as the Black-and-Red head coach. D.C. United will look to stabilize and build momentum as they head into Wednesday’s match against Charlotte FC and second part of the season. They will look to bridge the gap between them and the playoff spot position (9th) with a 10-point difference, by getting all three points tomorrow night.