Aspire in the World Fellows Book - 2025

52 53 11TH ASPIRE ACADEMY GLOBAL SUMMIT ASPIRE IN THE WORLD FELLOWS We have no choice; technology is part of the game now. I had a player this year who gave me medical advice based on ChatGPT. This is the world we live in. I’m a bit old school, but we must adapt. Life and football evolve constantly. Intuition is essential. Data is important, but context matters more. I believe in data when it can support how the brainprocesses information, andwe’re not fully there yet. Tools like iPads and analytics are vital, and we must use them, but we also need intuition. We cannot really compare. MLS works in a certain way, Europe works differently. You must adapt to each context. MLS can improve, Europe can learn from MLS, and vice versa. Coaching in MLS forces you to find solutions because you cannot simply replaceplayers. Youhavetocoachand help them improve. That’s powerful. If you have more resources elsewhere, you adapt to that too. What matters is improving the environment you’re in. It’s a strategy. More players means more complexity. Studies show that with 16–17 core players, you can win a lot. Too many players make involvement harder. With five substitutions, bench players are crucial. They must raise or maintain the level. Everyone matters. I’ve learned from watching many sports: you need all kinds of players to achieve something. The best way is to empower them and give clear roles. Roles can change through performance. Competition is important—two players per position, and versatility when possible. The dynamic of the group is essential. How do you balance data and technology with intuition? MLS and Europe are often compared. You know how difficult it is to build a roster in MLS with salary caps and DP slots. How does that compare to Europe? On the field, we mostly see the starting eleven. How do you keep the six or seven players who haven’t played in several games happy? STAR CHAT