|
|
Toronto born Canadian International and Toronto FC left back Ashtone Morgan is a graduate of the TFC Academy Program and a former Canadian U-20 Player of the Year. The 22 year old defender has been capped 8 times by Canada at the International level and was recently selected to be part of the Canadian squad that will face off against Australia at Craven Cottage in England on Tuesday, October 15th, 2013.
RedNation recently had the chance to catch up with Morgan prior to Canada’s third match under new Head Coach Benito Floro.
RedNation Online: Ashtone, not many people got to see Canada play their first matches under new Head Coach Benito Floro. However, reports out of Spain were that the team looked good and played well even though the squad did not get a victory. How important is it to now build on some solid play in those two games with a win against Australia, especially given that it has been a while since Canada has won?
Ashtone Morgan: We are still searching for that win, but there was a lot of progress the last time out between the camp and the games. I think having Benito as the coach is great for us and it is one of the better things that has happened for Canadian football. He has come in and applied those traits with respect to how he wants us to play. It is very positive for the team, especially for us young guys that are coming up.
RNO: You’ve played for a lot of coaches at the club level with TFC and you previously played for Stephen Hart at the national team level. How does your role and/or style of play change moving from Stephen Hart to Benito Floro?
Ashtone Morgan: It’s great with Benito because he loves when the fullbacks get up into the play and he wants us to start the play and to try to finish the play and to play with a lot of overlapping. I think that suits my game very well.
RNO: Playing at the senior International level is a different beast than club soccer. You’ve been involved with the senior national team for a couple of years now. Do you feel like you are settling in and that you have a better understanding of what it takes to be successful playing in those International matches?
Ashtone Morgan: 100%. I’m getting more comfortable as I progress and as I keep getting more call-ups. I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully as we progress we can start to get some wins under our belts and eventually we can progress to making it to the next World Cup.
RNO: There are a number of younger players like yourself who have been getting consistent call-ups to the national team and who are expected to form the core of the team for the next 8-10 years. Many of these players – Samuel Piette, Russell Teibert, yourself, Doneil Henry – have already played together previously at the youth national team levels. Obviously, you have some chemistry with Doneil, Jonathan Osorio and Kyle Bekker due to the fact that you play and train with those guys week, week out at TFC. How is the chemistry that is developing among this next generation of young players overall?
Ashtone Morgan: It’s still building and it is great. We’re all familiar faces to each other, so it’s not that hard for us to adapt and cope with each other. I think it is really easy and it just takes a couple of practices for us to come together. As long as we all stay healthy, in form and keeping getting call-ups, I think it will be really good.
RNO: Tuesday’s game against Australia will again be played on neutral ground in the United Kingdom on a pretty prestigious pitch, Craven Cottage. Is that something you are looking forward to?
Ashtone Morgan: Absolutely. It’s really exciting getting the opportunity to play at Craven Cottage. I’ve always wathed the EPL and Fulham on television, so it will be great to get that great experience there, as well as to get a W there.
RNO: I can’t recall the last time Canada played Australia, so it’s certainly been a while. They have been something of a regular World Cup participant in recent years and in some ways you can almost look at them as a model for Canada as a big country with a similar population and players spread out all over the place. What do you expect from Australia?
Ashtone Morgan: I think it is going to be a great match. They are a prestigious team and have made it to World Cups and made it pretty far in World Cups. It is going to be a good challenge for us and a good game for us to see where we are compared to them.
RNO: What are you hoping to achieve in this second camp and go round with Benito Floro at the helm of the Canadian team?
Ashtone Morgan: Every camp that I get called into, I’m fighting for my spot and my position. Hopefully I can push guys out of their position. I’m fighting for a job, so I’m definitely going to work hard.
RNO: It’s been another challenging season for TFC. What has this season in particular done for your development as a young player? You’ve been in great form in recent weeks, but you also had to battle for minutes earlier on with another new head coach taking over this year.
Ashtone Morgan: It was definitely too slow a start for my liking. But that is what happens sometimes in football. Sometimes you have some great high times and sometimes you have low times. It is all about how you adapt to those situations. I think I adapted well because I got my nod finally a few weeks back and I have taken it by the reigns and have tried to solidify my spot and make sure that I am the left back for Toronto.
|