After conceding nine goals in their first three league games of 2020, the Orange and Blue have responded with three straight clean sheets – a club record in MLS play.
The defensive success is a testament to goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń and the backline, but it also speaks to the team’s collective defending, head coach Jaap Stam said.
“It’s not only the backline,” Stam said following last Friday’s draw with D.C. United. “You don’t play with a back five or a back four, you play with 11 players on the pitch and they all need to defend. If the midfield players in front the back five or the back four and the strikers are not doing their part, it’s going to be very difficult not to concede. It’s the whole team working and trying to work as a block.”
Left back Andrew Gutman agreed and said the team’s collective defending is a significant change to how the side played in 2019.
“We’ve come a long way,” Gutman said. “Obviously, last year we leaked a lot of goals but I wouldn’t say it’s just our backline. Our backline, midfield and forwards are connected a lot more. The spaces in between lines aren’t as big, which allows us to close down defenders a lot quicker. We’re playing more as a unit.
“If one guy moves, the whole team shifts with them. We’re not playing individually like last year. A lot of times, people were getting caught out because we weren’t totally on the same page, and I think this year we’re on the same page … We’re getting better results because of it.”
Cincinnati could extend the 300-minute streak without conceding in league play on Tuesday night when the team plays Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
