David Critchley and St. Louis CITY SC are trying to shift their mentality, but it’s a work in progress as MLS reaches the midpoint of the season.

A squad that started the year transitioning to a more passive defending scheme is now trying to shift back to being on the front foot. Saturday’s match with the LA Galaxy offered the squad an opportunity to revisit a rare win from the Olof Mellberg era.

Their matchup earlier in the season felt like a smash and grab 0-3 win against an ailing Galaxy. While the 3-3 draw from Energizer Park satiated the need for progress, it was still a reminder that Critchley has his work cut out for him in drilling the club’s aggressive mentality back into the squad.

Some of it is obviously tactical.

The switch to a back four has allowed for a better balance in the midfield, and more numbers in the attack but, on the flip side, it has allowed a bit too much spacing between the CBs and FBs. It’s something that becomes increasingly noticeable with a CB pair of Kyle Hiebert and Timo Baumgartl that are more exploitable outnumbered in the attack.

You can see it in the heat map. There was simply too much space between Hiebert on the left and a right side of the formation that was pushing high with Totland in the wing.

“We were just too expansive in that moment.” Critchley said of the third LA Galaxy goal. The manager wants his squad to push forward but the group has to be a compact unit, even as they push into space and play directly towards goal.

It’s a case of players being caught between two minds as Critchley attempts to work a miracle turnaround.

“This was something we brought up this week, this game and pregame and halftime, is trying to flip this mentality of these young lads.” Critley reflected. “Some of the behaviors right now is to get the goal and it's almost like we'll sit into our shell and invite pressure. We're slowly but surely changing that. [...] Today, there were just some mistakes on the field. These guys are going to make mistakes all the time. I'm going to make mistakes as a coach. Unfortunately, the last two goals were errors on our end, absolutely.”

Luckily, there’s more than enough progress to feel hopeful that this is a group that can become stronger than the sum of their parts.

Look no further than the other side of that equation.

João Klauss has found his role again thanks to a more direct CITY SC attack. The Brazilian has become a focal point of the retool, not just in creating opportunities but in finishing chances that would have sailed out of play two months ago.

Klauss became the first CITY SC player to record a hat trick, a feat that seemed inconceivable a month ago, but in the striker’s last five matches across all competitions, he has scored five goals. He’s thriving in a system designed to get the most out of him, whether it’s dropping into space to flick Marcel Hartel forward, or just bullying his way through a defensive block. Klauss has been explosive throughout this run, and it seems freeing for a player that has internally shouldered the squad’s scoring woes this season.

“One more time, I put my name in the history of the club.” Klauss reflected. “I have been here from day one and everybody knows the relationship that I have with everybody in this club, how much I enjoy being here, how much I enjoy playing in front of our fans, how much I enjoy the city and the club. I have a lot of respect for everybody around here but sometimes you have ups and downs in soccer.”

Every goal in a 3-3 match is important but the cherry on top is the pressure and harsh angle that Klauss executes his game tying stoppage time screamer.

The goal itself is a microcosm for just how stark the change in mentality has been. In previous late match collapses, the squad failed to truly press the issue. If they did create chances they were wasted and the attack stayed far too patient without a clue of how to unlock a more direct opportunity.

On Saturday, that all changed.

Roman Bürki pushed everyone forward before he launched the ball towards Timo Baumgartl free in the box. Baumgartl tipped the ball forward into space as Klauss pounced on the opportunity – the actions of a confident striker.

“Everybody wants the ball.” Célio Pompeu said afterwards. “Everybody is not, we got the ball, and we play, we kick the ball long in behind, and good luck to our strikers. So it's that we are practicing and showing that we can be more calm in the back instead of passing to the side. Now we go backwards trying to see the free player, and it's more calm, more common, the ball value is more, wanting the ball more. I think that's a big difference, and I think we are still trying to get better and better, but we still have work to do to get to the next level.”

Célio’s comments echo the sentiments of Roman Bürki ahead of this match.

Bürki admitted that the sequences of play were less drilled under former manager Olof Mellberg, and Critchley’s organization in each phase of play has the players feeling more comfortable and that comfortability is showing itself in their ability to fight back late in matches.

Critchley has been in charge for two matches at Energizer Park, CITY SC has scored three stoppage time goals in that span.

St. Louis now heads into the break with the sense that they can turn this thing around, but they will need some help from their Sporting Director as well.

Off of the pitch:

The CITY SC supporter groups played a role in a Saturday full of peaceful demonstrations throughout the country against the current regime’s deportation operations.

stlsantos

A post shared by @stlsantos

STL Santos has been vocal about the hurt that the community is feeling during a time when ICE raids have become more commonplace.

As CBP and ICE help coordinate stadium security for the Club World Cup and Gold Cup competitions this month, it’s been an oppressive environment for the immigrant communities that make soccer such an incredible sport. It’s a sport that has given immigrant communities a form of expression throughout its global history. Now, when the administration is acting with prejudice, while trampling over due process, supporters are having to make hard decisions.

If sports are supposed to offer an escape from the stresses of society, government officials harassing fans for their proof of citizenship is antithetical to what makes sport great.

It’s this environment that gave Pride Night multiple meanings.

An environment that has to be welcoming to those who have been targeted by the system.

As the current administration attempts to erase and down-play important contributions from anyone that doesn’t fit into their narrow white Christian world view, it’s up to everyone else to remember, reclaim, and celebrate those contributions.

The Thieves Supporter Group unveiled a tifo that lived up to the occasion.

“Our Alien represents and reminds us that all are welcome. No matter the race, gender, orientation, species, ethnicity, or background.” - @Candyce_Creates