A few weeks ago, Atlético Ottawa certified the title of regular season champion of the Canadian Premier League (CPL). After a historic season, our sister team is looking to advance in the playoffs. This Sunday, at 8:00 p.m. Spanish peninsula time, TD Place will vibrate again with its players after the 0-2 first leg against Pacific FC.

In view of such a special match for Ottawa in particular, and all Atléticos in general, one of the main people responsible for the success of the Atleti team in the Canadian capital wanted to share his experience with us: Carlos González Juárez.

Carlos González is the coach of Atlético Ottawa. The Granada coach has signed a first campaign with his team to coach, but he maintains his hunger and his ambition for the playoffs: “After a season of honors, we now have a great opportunity to continue to challenge and grow as a club.”. Despite the optimism that is felt in the city, the coach remains calm and wants to go step by step: “We are very motivated and we are aware of the importance of the moment. From the beginning we have focused on the game-by-game formula and that has given us success, so the most important thing is the game on Sunday”.

Besides the accolades he receives, the last of them after the Nomination of PLC Technician of the Yearthe technician does not forget his past experiences: “Carlos González is still the same person as before, but as a coach I consider that I have evolved a lot. Not only here, but also in recent seasons at Atlético de Madrid Juvenil A or during my stay at the Kuwait, where I faced very demanding challenges”. Especially from his years in our Academy: “Having the opportunity to return to work under the protection of Atlético was perhaps the most determining factor,” explains what appealed to him the most about this opportunity in Canada.

“To feel like a coach again after my time as a coach, to live day by day. In addition, it seemed very interesting to me to know football in North America, where it is emerging and where a lot is invested to develop it”are the other reasons that led the Granada to opt for this new adventure.

Ottawa is a city of climatic contrasts. The winters are freezing and the differences with the warm months are extreme. This is why the development of the league competition is designed for the months when the weather is not an obstacle: “When we arrived in April it was quite cold and snowing, it was like a very harsh winter there in Spain. But in May the high temperatures and humidity started. Luckily, sport-wise, it does not affect us, because the league is planned for these milder months”.

“It’s a very beautiful city, it has natural landscapes that invite you to go out and have fun and play sports. Coming here, everything reminded me more of Europe after my stay in Kuwait, it has made everything so much easier”added Carlos when asked about his adaptation to Ottawa and this new experience.

Unlike here in Spain, the Canadian league is made up of only eight teams. Despite the small number of participants, a total of 28 games are played in total throughout the regular season. Indeed, each team plays each other up to four times and this is something the coach took into account from the start: “It’s very rare. The details count a lot, knowing how to compete and managing emotions is more important than the game plan because we know the opponent very well. We work a lot on versatility, variations to defend and attack to be able to have this ability to surprise against the rival without losing our identity”.

Despite being a “very young league”Carlos González attaches great importance “There are great talents. There are young boys with spectacular physical conditions and good technique. It’s when you start competing that you really realize that”. The only handicap throughout the season has been the question of travel: “These are journeys of 4 or 6 hours, like crossing an entire continent. In addition, you have to adapt to the new time zones of the different cities that you play”.

The success of Atlético Ottawa this season has gone hand in hand with that of the Canadian women’s team and the men’s qualification for the World Cup. “The football culture here has grown. That’s how we felt it in every pitch we went to”the coach said of the support they received throughout the season.

Completely adapted, without language being an obstacle –“I feel my message comes through with the same clarity and depth as in Spanish for players to feel and execute what I want”-, Carlos González Juárez and his Atlético Ottawa face a new challenge in the CPL playoffs on Sunday (8:00 p.m.). From Atlético de Madrid we also show all the support our sister club in the second leg against Pacific FC.

Come on, Atleti Ottawa, come on! For Ottawa! Pour Ottawa!