Troy Lesesne: "We'll Stick Together and Keep Fighting"

By Denis Gomez

June 15, 2025

D.C. United continues its two-game losing streak after a devastating 7-1 home defeat to Chicago Fire and a 2-0 loss in Utah against Real Salt Lake. The Black-and-Red now sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points—7 points adrift of the playoff positions, which they have missed in each of the past five seasons and are on the verge of missing it for a sixth consecutive season. Despite a few absences, including key starters Matti Peltola and Aaron Herrera, D.C. fielded a solid squad capable of competing away from home. The team started in a 3-4-3 formation: Barraza in goal; Bartlett, Tubbs, and Rowles in defense; Schnegg, Enow, Servania, and Antley across midfield; and Leal, Badji, and Pirani leading the attack.

Following the loss at Real Salt Lake, head coach Troy Lesesne addressed the media, offering an assessment of his team’s performance, the challenges posed by absences and fatigue, and how the group remains committed to overcoming adversity.

Strong Start Undone by Familiar Struggles

Lesesne opened the press conference by commending his team’s start to the game, emphasizing the compact shape and high energy in midfield:

“I think we started the match very well. Stayed compact, had a lot of ball wins in the middle of the field, and went into the attacking transition,” Lesesne said. “We had a big chance early with Gabi and a couple of other half reorganized moments that maybe could’ve materialized into more dangerous opportunities.”

However, the match turned on moments that Lesesne admitted have become a pattern for his squad.

“Both their goals and their chances came from moments in attacking transition and direct play that continue to hurt us,” he noted. “We limited that for most of the match, but when we switched to a back four late in the game, it opened things up too much.”

Tactical Shifts and Missed Opportunities

When asked about the first goal, Lesesne explained that his instructions to the defense were centered on maintaining shape and ensuring cover behind the ball.

“We didn’t have enough numbers atand that moment. I was trying to get the midfielders and backs re-organized quickly,” he said.

Despite minor tactical adjustments in response to Real Salt Lake’s No. 10 dropping deeper, Lesesne said there were no major surprises from the opponent.

“What we expected is what we saw tonight,” he added.

Keeping the Squad Focused and Motivated

Even after a disappointing result, Lesesne expressed confidence in his players’ mindset.

“The way we started the match shows this group is not going to back down,” he said. “We all know what the challenge is in front of us. We’re going to continue to face it head-on—through good times and difficult ones. We’ll stick together and keep fighting.”

Rest and Reset Ahead of Crucial Matches

With no match scheduled for the upcoming week, Lesesne welcomed the opportunity for the team to rest and recalibrate.

“We’ve played through both international breaks—we might be one of only two teams to do that,” he said. “We need this week to reset. We have two important home matches against Nashville SC on June 28th and Atlanta United on July 5th, before the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on July 9th.”

International Duty Takes Its Toll

Lesesne praised Boris and Kai for their efforts after returning from international duty, noting their travel-intensive schedules.

“Boris and Kai played exceptionally well until maybe the last 10-15 minutes. Considering the travel—Kai went to Australia and Saudi Arabia before flying back to Salt Lake—it’s no wonder they were fatigued.”

The team also missed several key players due to international duty and injury, including Aaron Herrera, Matti Peltola, Christian Benteke, Joao Peglow, Lucas MacNaughton, and Jackson Hopkins.

“I’ve said it time and again—we miss these guys, we need these guys. But this group tonight was capable of getting a result, and we didn’t. That’s something we’re going to have to face and continue to face head-on.”

As D.C. United prepares for the crucial home fixtures against Nashville SC on June 28th and Atlanta United on July 5th, all eyes are on the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on July 9th. With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the next stretch of games will test not just the tactical adjustments but the strength in the culture that Troy Lesesne has tried to establish under his leadership.

Goalkeeper Luis Barraza beaten on the first goal