In his first full season, Pablo Mastroeni has navigated injuries and a difficult schedule to keep RSL in a playoff position.
Pablo Mastroeni started today this way, because he starts every day this way.He wrote a page in his journal, a habit he has had for as long as he can remember. And he read a chapter from one of two books — either “The Untethered Soul,” which he considers to be something like his Bible, a work that reminds him how little control we all really have; or “The Surrender Experiment,” which Mastroeni says is a lesson in saying yes to whatever life puts in front of you.
“I’m a little bit nervous to check it out,” he said as he began preparations for the season. “Because it sounds like a spoof on everything I believe.”No. 1 – Teamwork. Playing for something greater than yourself.No. 3 — Perseverance. The ability to overcome difficult situations. Yet, RSL has still found success early in the season. Less-used players have stepped up. Like Tate Schmitt, who has two game-winning goals under his belt already this season, including one in stoppage time to complete a 3-2 comeback over New England. Like Zac MacMath, who has recorded four shutouts in 10 starts with last year’s starting goalkeeper David Ochoa out of the lineup.
“I think the most important thing for me is that I always do it from a place of empathy,” Mastroeni said. “So for me, before I speak to anybody, it’s really about understanding where they’re coming from, empathizing with them and then speaking from that place.”“Soccer is not a game to me,” he said. “It’s a sanctuary. It’s a place where I can operate from my best self without any fear. That’s one place I’ve never had any anxiety, any fear. That’s why I talk about the game from that perspective.