Q&A with Adrian Heath: On MNUFC’s rise, facing Orlando, Everton and more (2024)

You may not know this, but Adrian Heath used to be the head coach of Orlando City.

For years, the Minnesota United boss has found questions regarding his previous employers unavoidable. There was the first matchup against them, in 2017 — a 1-0 Loons win at home. There was his first game at Exploria Stadium in 2018, the stadium he had played a major role in earning. There were rash coach sackings in Orlando which begged questions about déjà vu even two or three years removed from his own dismissal in 2016.

However, none of these moments quite compares to the overwhelming narrative ahead of Thursday’s MLS is Back tournament semifinal between Minnesota and Orlando (7 p.m. Central, ESPN2/Deportes). On Monday, Heath joined a lineup of every semifinalist’s head coach as well as two players per team for a videoconference media day. Following Philadelphia and Portland (who play Wednesday), Heath led Minnesota’s sequence of subjects. If MLS wasn’t your beat, you may be mistaken for thinking that he coaches Orlando. Of his 15-minute availability, there were 10 or more devoted to the club he helmed for over half a decade — if this matchup carried extra weight, what he thinks of their newfound success, if he wonders what could have been, how the teams compare.

Heath didn’t show signs of impatience during the availability, perhaps just thankful for a chorus of fresh voices after what’s approaching two months worth of time at the Swan & Dolphin Resort in Florida. However, the gaffer clearly had more to say than that time or line of questioning allowed.

Following the scrum, he spoke with The Athletic about an underdog’s mentality, what he’s learned about his Loons in isolation, Everton (the club from his storied playing days), youth development, what the future holds for him in Minnesota — and, of course, Orlando City SC.

We just got out of a group press conference where I would say two-thirds of the questions were about your old employer. Was there a part of you when you saw (a matchup against Orlando City) could be in the cards where you just kind of thought, “Oh great, here we go?”

After the group stage, when you see the way the bracket is, you’re thinking that could be an interesting one. I think they’ve played before us virtually every game, so we’ve known that they’re going through. As the tournament’s gone on, I’ve been confident that we could go a long way. So, a few weeks ago — it seems like an eternity ago — probably about 10 days ago, we had a look at it and thought that could be an interesting tie if it gets to that, and here we are.

I knew there would be a lot of questions to come about it, because you don’t spend the time that I did there and have the relationship I have with the people there for it not to become a talking point. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m looking forward to it more for the football occasion. It’s a huge opportunity for us to go to another final and what comes with that if we were to win the final. Going to the CONCACAF Champions League, there a nice purse at the end of it, but more importantly for some of our players, it’ll be an opportunity to win something. To make history for the club. Suddenly, you turn around and the first trophy ever won by the club (since joining MLS) was this group of guys. There’s an awful lot to play for.

What has life been like in the bubble lately? You’re seeing teams start to leave and even though it’s because you’re still playing, you’re still there.

It’s been tougher than a lot of people think, I can’t lie. I know from speaking to some of the coaches — it was a bit of relief for some of them when they actually went out. They didn’t want to go out, but they mention the relief that the players showed when they get on the plane to go home. I don’t think people realize how confined it’s been down here — literally, you cannot go out. You can’t do anything. We’ve got a swimming pool but it’s 90 degrees out and the humidity is crazy, so unless you’re actually doing a pool workout, you don’t see anybody around the pool either. I’ve spent probably 15 hours a day in and around my hotel room and the next room where we’ve got the TV set up for watching video and putting sessions together for the group.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s not been easy down here, but I think everybody realized that it was essential that we did it. I’m not just paying lip service here, but I think the MLS has done an incredible job with what they’ve done. They’ve pulled it off really, really well, but it has been a challenge. It’s one of them things that we’ll probably never do again. By this time next year, hopefully we’ve got a vaccine and everything can get back to some normality. I never thought I would do something like this, and probably don’t want to do it again, but I felt it was necessary. Ultimately, when we look back at it at the end, we’ll say, you know what, they put a really good tournament together.

How do you feel about the proposed plan to go back into markets? Is that something that you’re even letting yourself think about as this tournament is going on?

I know it’s clichéd stuff, but it’s about the next game and the next day. We’ve got a really big game on Thursday and hopefully another one next Tuesday. We’ve got an awful lot at stake, so I want to concentrate everything on that; then, we’ll think about what’s next. It looks difficult, doesn’t it? When you look at what’s happening in baseball, it’s just so much more difficult when people have got kids going to school, you’ve got to go out to shop and so on. To contain it the way that we have in this bubble is going to be difficult. The Premier League proved it, the Bundesliga did, the leagues finished in Spain and Italy, so it can be done. It’s going to take an awful lot of dedication from a lot of people to get the home-and-away going again.

Maybe it’s just a series of five games, but have you learned anything about your team through this tournament?

Yes. I think the big one is that they can play through adversity. I’ve got a great group. You think you know your group, but when you’ve been living in these conditions and you see them every day for the amount of time that we’re all spending together. … I’ve got a really good group of guys, great professionals, and it’s been a pleasure to be in charge of it. We are talented; I was really worried coming into the tournament, I have to be honest, because we hadn’t played 11-vs.-11 because we didn’t have as many players with the squad size and some injuries. Literally going into the game against Kansas City, we hadn’t played an 11-vs.-11. It was tough, but through that initial bit of adversity, they didn’t give up. They kept going with great determination and resolve.

2020 may be abnormal, but it’s also your first season with more control over player personnel decisions with the new sporting department organization. How have those duties changed your role?

Well, I speak about it more for the simple reason that Mark Watson and I speak maybe three or four times a day. This (Bakaye) Dibassy situation has been going on for what seems like forever, the (Emanuel) Reynoso thing seems like it’s been going on forever. I’m probably kept up to date with it more and fully aware at every stage, where we are with what’s going on. It’s evolving. We’re already now looking at next season. We don’t know what the rest of this year is, but we’re already looking at certain positions for next year to keep incrementally improving this squad. That’s the way it’s got to be. As I said before the season started — everybody else is doing it. Nobody’s standing still; if you do, you’re going backwards, because everybody else is improving. … I know Watto’s working extremely hard on it, so we’re pleased that we got Dibassy over the line. If we can get Reynoso, I think he will be one of the better players in the league.

When we talk about having a roster where you could truly compete with teams at the top of MLS, I think back to the interviews you and I did in 2017 and 2018, where that clearly wasn’t the case yet. Was there a moment over the last 18 months where you saw a run of games, one performance, even 45 great minutes, where you start to think, “OK, we have it now?”

Yeah, and you know the irony of it? We lost the game. Against Philly, 3-2 (on June 2, 2019). If you speak to (Philadelphia head coach) Jim Curtin, he said that was the oddest game they had last year. I thought we were outstanding that day, and we lost. If you remember my press conference after the game, I was really upbeat, because if you’ve seen what Philly did last year, and they’re still doing it now, they’ve got a good team. For us to dominate play the way that we did that day, I thought we were turning this around to a stage where I can go out most weekends and think we played well and we can win the game.

You’ve seen a lot of newer players get chances in this tournament. On Saturday, you mentioned Marlon Hairston, Jacori Hayes and Raheem Edwards by name. We haven’t seen as much from Mason Toye or Thomás Chacón (Note: on Monday, Heath stated that Chacón has a calf injury). Where are they at with their development and what’s the plan?

The harsh thing for them at this moment is that they’ve got people ahead of them who are playing really well. Now, I know there’s been a lot of debate around Thomás. I’m not silly; I don’t do social media, but people tell me and I hear that. The hard part is that we haven’t got a second team at this moment in time, so to get them minutes to get them sharp enough to play and do what they can is difficult. I’m trying to think: Mason started the game against Kansas (City), but when was the last time he played the full 90? Thomás is in a similar boat. We can’t afford to let people get fit on the job. I have to pick a team to win a game of football. That’s my job. I don’t do it with any preconceived ideas of, you know, I like this guy or I don’t like this guy. I do it purely and simply every time on what I think is the best 11 to win a game. The hard part for them at this moment is that they’re not in our 11, and I know that’s frustrating. I do know: I was a player for 20-odd years. I know how frustrated they are, but there’s not an awful lot I can do because every time I pick a team, I do it just to try and win a game.

Regarding that second team component: you had Madison as an out-of-house affiliate in 2019.This year, there’s no affiliate. I know 2020 has thrown club operations completely off across the world but, are you aware of any sort of change in that timeline?

We have to do so. We’re all, at this moment, talking about what does the academy and the second team look like moving forward. I know we got some stick with the academy stuff, but I don’t want anybody out there thinking that we’re not committed to that. This issue has been a challenge for everybody, not just for us, but it is something that we’re working on. We’re hopeful that maybe there will be an announcement in the near future. I don’t want anybody out there thinking that we’re not committed to helping. You only have to look at the younger players that we’ve put in the team. We signed (Minnesota-born goalkeeper) Fred Emmings — he’s 15. It’s not that we don’t think that we think it’s important. You look what we’ve done in the draft, and we’ve probably done as good as anybody in the draft over the last two, three years.

It’s something that we take seriously. It’s like how the other day, (Liverpool manager) Jürgen Klopp said that he wants a team full of Scousers (Liverpool natives). I don’t think there’s a manager in football who wouldn’t want half a dozen local kids playing for their hometown team. I was one of them, when I debuted with Stoke City. I know what it means. We are committed to it. We’re trying to work our way around it to make it the best we can. Hopefully, there will be some conversations around that in the not too distant future.

Coming out of the break, the International Football Association Board changed the substitutions rule to add two additional substitutes, probably through the 2020-2021 season as well. I don’t think you’ve used all five subs in any of the first five games of the tournament, but what are your thoughts overall on the change?

I personally think it’s a good thing. There’s no point having a (matchday) roster of 20-odd players when you can only pick three. I know that one or two people don’t think I use my subs enough, because that’s been well documented. That’s an opinion of mine. When you pick a team, you don’t pick a team thinking you’re going to change it at a specific time. If that’s the case, you picked the wrong team in the first place. I’ve been doing this a long time, and just changing for change’s sake sometimes completely upsets the rhythm of what your team is doing. Down here, I think it’s been a necessity to talk to the change because I don’t think people have realized how hot it’s been. In the game on Saturday, it was 92 degrees with 44 to 45 humidity, so they’re extreme conditions to play in. I’m loathe to make lots of substitutions, but I know some people do. It’s never been a thing for me. I will do it if I think it’s going to make the team better.

You’ve mentioned a few times that you don’t use social media. You’ve talked about the media, though, a fair amount during this tournament. How much MLS-related media do you read or watch any given day?

I go to the MLS website every day. I go on virtually every club’s website to see what’s happening, what the players are talking about. We always do it with our next opponent. People think I sit up at night going, “I’m going to say this tomorrow.” I get asked questions about being the underdog, about if the team gets enough respect. When I answer (those) questions, people go, “Oh, here he is again, he’s playing the underdog.” I just reply to what I see or hear or read. It’s strange because the other night, somebody said that they can’t remember one game (in the tournament) where people have said that we’re the favorites for the game. So what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to say I haven’t read it? Of course I have. People think I use it as bulletin board material for players — yeah, I do. If people write things about my group of players, that they can’t win this game, for sure I’m going to use it and tell the players that nobody out there fancies them. Nobody thinks you can win this game. If that’s a source of motivation for the guys, so be it.

Would you ever feel comfortable being the favorite? Maybe last year’s game against Cincinnati was an example.

I think so. When I look back at my USL days, we were favorites in every game that we played because we had a really good team. I don’t mind it. Trust me, if we have a team where every game, I thought we were going to win, I’m bullish enough to say I’m confident we’re going to win this game. We aren’t at that stage yet. I know that we have to play really well every time that we play to win the game. We can’t win at 50 percent, 60-to-70 percent — we can’t. We’re not at that state yet. I think this league is getting too competitive for that now, as it’s proved in this tournament. If you don’t play well, you’re going out because every team is competitive now.

You are less shy about questioning what seems like either a lazy narrative or unfair assessments. Do you think that there is sort of a one-sided dialogue with how the media covers your sport, your teams, and that there should be more room for coaches or players to question some of that?

I think so, but I’m not silly. We’re probably never going to get the coverage that New York and L.A. get. That’s the same in most sports. The big markets where it’s on the doorstep of wherever the headquarters are, they get most of it. Manchester United gets more coverage than any team in England because they’re just Man United. People know that. The big one for me is that when things are going well and you’re doing well and improving, I think it’s my job to make sure that people are aware of what we’re doing and that they aren’t ignoring us. I think it’s important.

This is your fourth season in Minnesota. You were in Orlando for longer, but it was a year and a half in MLS. We’re coming off of a lot of Orlando legacy questions, but is it to a point now where Minnesota has the same or a greater soft spot in your heart in the big picture?

I think so. I did say we should see where we are after three years, and we are where I thought we’d be — and we’re improving. I know that where we were when we started — and it’s been well documented — we had the opportunity when it arose to go to MLS. Were we ready? The answer was probably not. So we had to take our lumps, and nobody more than me in the early days. I think we’re over that now. I think last year was the catalyst for change. The perception of what we are as a football club, not even internally but externally around the league, is different than it was a year ago. I think that’s a good marker, but we can’t stand still. We have to keep getting better. We have to keep pushing the envelope.

You’re in a new contract this year, and it’s the first time in a while where you haven’t been in a contract year. Have you started to think long-term about Minnesota’s role in your future?

I would like this to be my last job. I would like to finish my career here. I’ve got no thoughts of retiring anytime soon, but I’ve never shied away from the fact that I love living where I live. I love Minnesota, everything about it. When people say the winters are cold, I’m prepared to put up with it for the spring, summer, and fall. When I look at where we are, I would like to think that if we keep making this better and keep improving, this could be my last job. If I do that, that will give me a great deal of satisfaction.

What would be next? You’re taking on more of a backroom role with these dual responsibilities; would there be a consideration of leaving the touchline but staying in a sort of a sporting director role?

I think a lot of that depends on who you’re working for. I’ve got a great relationship with the people in Minnesota, and we’ve got a great ownership group. I really like the people in the ownership group. If this was my last job, then hopefully at some stage the club would see that I’ve got a lot to offer in different areas if they didn’t think that it was on the touchline. But my pure focus at this moment in time is doing as well as I can for the next two or three years here, and making sure that we are regularly in the playoffs, regularly competing. That has to be the aim.

Everton just finished its season with a 3-1 defeat against relegated AFC Bournemouth. I know that you have a great respect for (manager) Carlo Ancelotti, but overall, what needs to change to get back to higher standing?

I think that the recruitment over the last few years, when you consider the amount of money they’ve spent, there’s got to be a few question marks. They do have a manager now who can attract top, top players. They’ve got an owner who’s not afraid to spend it. I think that this might be one of the biggest, most important transfer winners in the club’s history. That group at the top, that six now: look at what Chelsea are going to spend, look at what Liverpool are doing, Man United aren’t going to stand still, you look at Man City, Tottenham are gonna go with José Mourinho. This is going to be an incredibly important recruitment year for Everton. They’ve got a manager who knows how to win; he’s won wherever he’s been. What we have to do now is get the players on the field who are good enough to compete. The club are preparing to move into a brand new stadium which will be incredible. That club needs to be in and around that top six, and that’s where it’s always been and that’s where they should be.

You’re used to talking about stadiums at this point, so this is a pretty fitting question for you. The new Everton stadium does look gorgeous, but is there any sort of emotional heartstring being pulled about Goodison Park coming to a close?

Oh yeah. That, to me, is still the most atmospheric ground in the country. I can’t tell you the memories that I have from that stadium. I understand when people say the club has to do this to move forward, that they lose so much money in corporate hospitality, etc., because of the stadium the way it is. I’ll swing this around: what would people think if we said we’re going to pull Wrigley Field down, or we’re going to pull Fenway Park down? People would say that’s just sacrilege. I’m a little bit like that when it comes to Goodison. (Everton chairman) Bill Kenwright is a good friend of mine, and I know that these decisions will not have been taken lightly. Bill has been Evertonian all of his life. All of his life watching football has been at Goodison. I know he’s doing it for all the right reasons, but it’s still going to be an incredible wrench and a heartbreaking day when they actually do leave the great old ground.

(Top photo: David Berding / USA Today)