Davy Arnaud's tenure as Austin FC interim head coach has brought its share of good moments so far. The team's first road win of the year in Seattle, using a heavily-rotated lineup to achieve it. Two wins to kick Leagues Cup off, including only the second hat trick in Verde history, arguably completing a Myrto Uzuni redemption arc. A penalty kick shootout victory against one of the titans of Mexican soccer, in which the first 11 takers were perfect and Brad Stuver was better than his foe on the 12th.
And yet, Arnaud saved a superlative for his team following Wednesday night's Leagues Cup exit loss in Harrison, N.J. — a 2-0 loss to Toluca FC, with a scoreline only doubled at the end when Verde were chasing a result and left themselves exposed.
"This is probably the most proud that I've ever been in this group," he said post-match in his second straight truncated media availability. "Toluca is a very good team in a tough situation and a big game. To go down a man and respond the way that we did — I mean, if that doesn't give you pride in being a part of Austin FC and as a fan, if that doesn't give you pride in what the guys did tonight and belief that they're going to carry that going forward ... it was a big test and they responded in a great way, and it makes me excited for the rest of the year.
"I know those guys," he added. "The guys are so disappointed in the locker room because they felt like we we we could have gotten something out of the game. But I said it's not always fair. You don't always get what you feel like you might deserve, and you can pour your heart into everything and do everything the right way. And sometimes it doesn't work out, but it didn't change their their attitude and their effort and their mentality, and it's the most important thing. That's what these guys are about, man, and I'm proud of them."
