A lopsided loss. An eight-match unbeaten streak ending. La Murga de Austin and other supporters walking out as part of an organized protests just minutes into a match, leaving the stadium decidedly more quiet than it usually is.
Saturday's 4-1 loss to Nashville SC was arguably one of the season's lowest moments. The club's push for a playoff spot was thwarted by the likely Supporters' Shield winners, and the visible and audible fan protest — as explained by Los Verdes on Instagram on Saturday — was perceptible enough for interim head coach Davy Arnaud to field multiple questions about it post-match.
"It's not an excuse at all," Arnaud said, responding to a question about whether the diminished energy — most marked by La Murga de Austin's early walkout, leaving the stadium without the horns and drums it usually enjoys — was a distraction.
"It should never ... it doesn't matter," he said. "To be fair, the the fans are super important, and the energy they give is amazing," before segueing into emphasizing that players need to cultivate their own energy.
"I said, we can play here in front of no fans. We can play in the parking lot. We can play at the training facility ... it doesn't change the energy and the effort and the desire that you have to bring. This is part of our job.
"The fans and the atmosphere are a bonus on top of that, and it gives you extra juice," he added, noting that Verde's lone goal wasn't met with the same sort of energy that he'd expect based on past home matches. "But you know, we also have to take responsibility. The players also have to take responsibility individually for being a self-starter. We didn't do that tonight. And typically, that's where the fans can help, and we were lacking that. But it's no excuse at all."
