Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #399: Joe Scally joins the pod

Episode Date: June 18, 2023

Joe Scally, Borussia Monchengladbach and USMNT defender, sits down with Sanjay Sujanthakumar in Las Vegas for a quick chat. Ahead of Scally's likely start versus Canada tonight, they covered Berhalter's return, the locker room dynamics of taking over a starting job from a seasoned vet at Gladbach, going blonde with Gio, the "complicated tactics" quotes, the road forward for the NT now, and much more. ----Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Support that and get exclusive episodes once a week, plus access to the Discord and live call-in shows, by signing up for our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Scuff Podcast, where we talk about U.S. soccer. Welcome to Scuff Podcast. Sanjay here. I'm joined by U.S.S. men's national team and Brusha, Munchand-Glaibach defender, and Lake Grove, Long Island native Joe Scali. Joe, thanks for coming on the pod. What's up? Thank you for having me.

So first things first, tell me about you and Gio going blonde. Where did that come from? Yeah, it was my idea. Mine was supposed to be more of a platinum. Okay. There's a platinum. I don't know if you could tell. Okay.

Yeah, and then he just basically also wanted to, wanted to do it with me just because that's really how it happened there was no lost bed or something any like inspiration for it like is there some shady any of that or no there's nothing honestly i mean i think you see a lot of players do like crazy stuff in the summer just with their hair because it's a perfect time you know you're away from your club and kind of just do what you want in summer so i think that was probably the main reason we did it love what goes into that process a lot of people see you know bleached their hair but like talk me through that what would you actually do It's like three hours long.

I don't know. They have to take all the color out of your hair and, like, stings your head. Like, it hurts so bad. First, four, five minutes, then you do another layer, another four, five minutes, and then you put the coloring in. Yeah, it's coming in three hours. So you and Gio do it together. Love that.

If you and Gio got into a fight, who would win? Oh. It's tough to say. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know who would win. Both pretty scrappy. Yeah, yeah.

So on to some soccer things here. Everyone's talking about it. What are your thoughts on? Greg coming back. Yeah, I think, you know, we have to leave the stuff in the past and just look forward and we need to build on what we were to work. You know, we're a very good team. You saw it against Mexico.

We beat them 3-0. So just need to keep looking forward and keep getting better. So in an interview last month on Football America, you suggested that systems and tactics could maybe be simplified and the coach should understand it's not a club team. and some people interpreted that as a criticism of Greg. But it wasn't the first time that's been said, and it's been said by, you know, Bruce Serena back in the day

and other high-profile people. Do you think in this next era under Greg things might evolve in terms of how you guys play? You know, I think we play really good. You know, I think, like I said, you saw it against Mexico. You know, I think we're just going to keep building on what we've already started to just keep getting better pretty much. Did you tell me about the difference under the interim managers under Anthony now, BJ compared to Greg, like have they really loosen things up and giving you guys more freedom

to just play, or has it been pretty much the same thing? Yeah, you know, it's been a mix of both, you know, because, of course, Anthony, BJ were Craig's assistants, so it's not like they're going to create their own massive new game plan, so of course it's very similar. Yeah, we have a little bit more freedom, you know, to interchange and stuff like that, but it's all pretty much the same style, same tactics. So can you go into detail about the differences between your clubs tag? and the national team tactics and why one might be better for a national team versus a club team?

I mean, yeah. I've had so many coaches now since, and I'm only 20. I think I've had six coaches, played different styles under probably all of them. I mean, with a club team, you just have more time to implement what you want to do. You can buy players to implement your tactics, you know, whereas a national team, you have a selection of players. You can't go out and buy players, so you kind of need to do what fits to the quality of players, which we do. So I think that's the main difference to where you have a club team coach

who can buy players to fit his style, whereas a national team coach you can't go out by players. Yeah, so you just touched on the managerial situation. It's been a bit tumultuous for you at Gladbach. Manager just changed again. Second year in a row that's happened. Your thoughts on Farke leaving. Yeah, you know, I liked him a lot, of course.

You know, he played me pretty much every single game, had a lot of trust in me. So it always stinks to have a coach to leave, but now, you know, it's a new opportunity. to, of course, learn new things, get better as a player, and just hopefully, you know, hopefully finishing these European spots where our club should be. Did you find it especially tough as a young player with all the changes compared to some of the veterans?

I mean, as a young player, it's different because you can kind of see it as a, you know, earning your spot as a team, whereas an older player, the more experience. So if an older player sees a new coach coming in, you know, it's not, they don't really need to show because the coach already sees what they could do where, as a young player, you need to constantly show that you deserve to play. I think this is one thing that is good and bad. But, yeah, that's about it. So tactical question here, just in terms of Gladwock last season,

I know you've got a few different managers, but under Farca, in terms of where you're on the pitch, when the ball is on your side or the other side, both in possession and defensively. Is there a big difference positionally where you are on the pitch, both in and out of possession from Gladbach compared to the U.S.? I mean it's different yeah I glad back I kind of always come inside I play more as like a you know double six or sometimes three in the back but I also get up on the right so yeah it's different we play you know here with real outside backs where you just stay up and down the line so I guess that's the main difference but you know during the game you need to find your own pockets in and do your own thing so that double six thing coming inside was that new to you yeah yeah that was my first time doing it how did you find that like that was in preseason you guys are putting that Yeah, we were doing it right away, like the first day of preseason.

It was tough for me, but then again, I liked it because you obviously see Man City. We didn't do it like Man City, which on Stone's coming into the middle, but we played really good. You know, almost every game we had most possession, you know, we created chances. When they would, you know, countertack us, that would be there. We'd have two sixes, two centerbacks, so it was definitely a very good game plan. Just, you know, we couldn't get more goals, which would have helped us. So let's rewind a bit. Tell me about how the Gladvac move came about originally.

How did you realize it was the right fit? And what did they say about how they wanted you? Yeah, I think I was 16. They came over when I was at Nike Friendly's down in Florida. And it basically just showed me the plan and everything, told me where they saw me in the future. I knew it was a great club. I think they were even in Europa League that year,

Champions League years later. So I knew it was a really good club, great fans, great stadium. My family really liked it. We flew over there. When I was 16, I couldn't go over it, I was 18, but yeah, it just seemed like the perfect place for me. Was it intimidating to compete and usurp an established player like liner? What was that?

Was that like psychological as well as I'm. Yes, I know. I mean, when I was at NYCFC, we had Anton Tinner home, and I've basically been through this already where, you know, you have the established older player who played every game and, you know, that stuff pissed me off because, you know, as a young player, there's so much, you know, other things that go into it where you just don't play because of that reason. But when I moved over to Germany, it was nothing like that, you know, the best players play. And my first year, unfortunately, he got injured.

You know, you never want to see someone injured. But it gave me my chance to step in and play. And I showed what I could do. And that kind of established me as a player. And then going into this season, you know, again, again, I started. So he also helps me because he's an older player. So it gives me tips, everything like that. And I think, of course, it's positive than negatives.

So he kind of took you under his wing a bit? Yes and no, you know, because he wants to play. Everyone wants to play. So it's not like he's given up and he's just going to tell me everything to do. But we're teammates and we want the team to win in the end. So of course he helps me. I even help him with something. So it's good.

Was that like a social dynamic, interesting being the young kid taking a veteran spot? You know, obviously those guys probably knew him a bit better. And then I know your German wasn't great. What was that like socially? You know, it's if you were to ask me and I was in the MLS, I would say like, it would be crazy because I don't know why in the MLS it's so different with young players playing over older players, but in Europe, it's everyone needs to win. You know, it's really a very strict, strict business.

And, you know, when someone's playing better than someone in training, they're going to play. And that's just how it goes over there. So speaking to that, so you signed a new contract in April, but you didn't start in the league for like last month of the season, roughly. The timing seemed odd. So did Far could tell you that was the plan to give liner more? minutes towards the end or was that just like you just said like performance based and an example of how cutthroat things can be yeah i think after the union berlin i know uh that's what happened we have five games left uh after the union berlin game we were kind of out of europe uh so and we were in a good spot

to where we weren't going to go down or even come close to relegation so he did tell me he wanted to use everyone in the squad at that time just because there was five games left we were too far away from europe now and too far away from relegation so it was a good chance to you know get everyone minutes and that work harder training so yeah of course i wanted to play every game but yeah that's what he told me yeah so your reaction was just yeah positive and i just you know trained like i always did definitely um who's the best player you've ever played with the club and or country uh this is tough i mean when i was at lc fc devidvia was of course amazing his technique was crazy but now at my club i would have to say zacharia he was dennis zacharia was so good in the midfield and also uh

Breland Bolo. He was amazing forward. He's so strong, powerful can dribble everything. So I would say these two guys. Anything sticks out in your memory? Like something outrageous one of those guys did in training or a game? I mean, you just couldn't dribble around Zacharia. He was just too athletic and

would just run, tackled. So he didn't do any of the special stuff, but he just did all the defensive work. And Bolo, yeah, you can rip the ball into his chest and and it would just knock right down. So there's no special thing. These guys just did. You know, everything's so good. So you've proven you're capable of playing left back, and you have started there for the US.

You've never started a game at your natural right-back position. Could change tomorrow. You feel like you've earned that chance? Has it been frustrating at all to not get a shot of right-back? You're confident that'll happen in due time. Yeah, of course, I'm a right-back. I've played there now for a while. Yeah, I feel more comfortable there,

and, of course, I would have liked my chance to play there earlier, but, you know, if it comes up soon, then, of course, I'm going to give him my best. I'm going to be very confident because, you know, I played it so far two seasons in a row into Bundesliga. Yeah, so speaking of that, if you play tomorrow, you'll probably be going up against Alfonso Davies. You've done that before against him and a restacked Byron team at their place last season,

being the last season. Tell me about that game. Do you remember that well when you guys got the draw one-one? What was that like? Yeah, I remember that. Yeah, it was crazy. I think at the time we were like third or fourth in the league, and they were first or second, so it was a very intense game.

Their stadium was crazy just because, yeah, I don't know why it's always like this, but we always tend to get good results against them, and their fans don't like it. So the stadium was crazy. You know, they set off the flares in the start of the second half. We were up one zero. I think they scored in the 80th minutes on I scored, but, yeah, it was a great game. Of course, they have so many good guys, and he's just another one of them. And, yeah, when you work as a collective unit, one guy's not going to beat you.

So I think we're all going to, you know, work to. together and overcome Canada because one guy is just not going to beat us. So with Byron, obviously, I think the joke amongst their fans is that Salmer just stands on his head. Yeah, exactly. We were saying when they were one point behind Dorman going to the last match, they were like, Jan really lost his team to the championship because he saved 19 shots against them at their place.

And if he wouldn't have done that, he would have won the championship. But, you know, he ended up winning anyway. But it was funny. In the locker room we were saying, like, if he didn't save 19 shots, he would be champion right now. So it's funny. It was really funny. Was there, so that wasn't the first time you played Byron and held your own. Was that, like, just doing it against Byron is that kind of different after the game?

You look in the mirror and tell yourself, like, I can really do this? Yeah, of course. I mean, if you do it against Byron, you feel you can do it against any team because they have so much quality into attacking, midfield everywhere. And, yeah, when you do it against them, you really feel very confident, feel like you can do it against anyone. What do you do to prep for a player like Davies? Like knowing you're going up against them tomorrow?

Yeah, I mean, now I've played him like five times, so of course it's not not stressful. You know what I'm not so stressful. I know what he does. He knows what I does. I do. So of course, you know, it's going to be a battle. I know he's very fast, very physical. Just going to have to stay close, you know, and do what I always do.

He is done, Deutschez. Vest? It's okay. It's okay. It's getting there? Yeah, it's getting there. So I remember you told me a while ago when we spoke in Germany, that when you on breaks when you leave, you kind of just like lose it.

Yeah, everything is gone. That's still happening? No, but now I understand, you know, most of it I just can't. The speaking and switching parts is where I have problems. Okay. But I understand most of it. You feel like practicing ever with, I know a bunch of the guys in team can speak or it's just everything's English?

Yeah, everything's English. Yeah, we do not say any outside of language. It's just all English. Biggest change in your game since getting to Germany? I think my defensive game has definitely got much, much better. You know, I used to have problems defensively. now it's just gotten much better. Yeah, so was there something that you knew right away that you needed, you kind of just answered

it, but you knew you needed to work on right away once you started playing the Bundesliga? I think I would say my one-to-one defending because the wingers in the Bundesliga always go one against one, very fast, physical winger, so that's definitely it. Any examples of things you did like in training or off the field to improve that? Not really. I think, you know, when I started with the second team and I did that first half a year with them, I really like switched to the German style and I think that those games really helped me. In training, I don't remember.

I think it was just those games really helped me. Tell me about, like, stylistically, what was that big difference, that German style? Yeah, it's much more physical. Yeah, everything's just so much quicker. Yeah, it's just like a level higher than here, I guess you can say. Yeah, I don't know, yeah. So you mentioned you want to play in the prime one day. Is there a team you grew up supporting any dream scenario for you in the future?

Yeah, I always said I wanted to play. play in the Premier League. I mean, since I played in New York City, FC, you know, they're linked with Manchester City, so I kind of just always had that natural feeling of, you know, I like them. They've been winning everything, so that's, of course, not a bad team to be at, but, yeah, you know, one day I just hope to be in the Premier League, and, yeah, I don't know which team. So you do root for City? Yeah, I do root for City, yeah, of course, but just because of the connection, it made it easy to not seem like a front-runner. Any fun plans for the off-season?

Yeah, I'm going to be in Florida, going to go to Antigua, just hang out. How much time do you guys actually get off, like, go soccer? And, like, are you, like, not touching ball at all during that time? Like, not really working out. How much break time you really get? I would say real break time, 10 to 12 days. You know, you get a full three, three and a half weeks off. But, yeah, you're not doing anything for probably around 10, 10 and 12 days.

Just relaxing. Of course, you watch what you eat. You're not going to go and just have cheeseburgers every single day like that. But, yeah, I would say 10 to 12 days where you're not, you know, you know, working out doing anything. That's pretty much good. And then after that next 12 days, you really start to ramp it up. That's crazy.

At 365, that's... Yeah, I know. Now when you say like that at 365, just 12 days, it's, oh, my God, any more. We hear a lot about golf with the team. Recently, someone said, forget who it was, but someone said that Walker and Christian are pretty much at the top. Yeah. You agree with that?

I would say, yeah, they're the top two. I would put myself top five. Top five? Yeah, top five. Yeah, easily top five of myself, yeah. Is anyone, like, downright terrible? Like, besides, like, the guys, out of the guys who play. Out of the guys who play?

I'm not talking about, like, Bala, who obviously just learned that out of. Yeah, of course, yeah. Terrible? Anyone you want to drag right now? Yeah, I don't know if I can do that. Terrible. I'm not saying that. Who'd be better at your Gia?

I'm not kidding, we go back and forth, back and forth, literally. I would say he has a better driver, and then my irons are better. And then short game, it's just whoever's on that day. But when we play in Germany, it's back and forth, literally. Diplomatic answer, you're a good friend, man. Yeah, good friend. But honestly, if you were to ask him, he would give you the same answer. Okay.

Yeah, so you can do that. Joe, thanks so much for coming on the pod. No, thank you. Awesome, thank you. Perfect. All right.