Savvy team-building is the key to Utah’s success – Equalizer Soccer

Photo Credit: Utah Royals FC

The Utah Royals are on course for the best season in their history. In their original form and since their return in 2024, the Royals have never made the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. That looks set to change, with their stunning 5-1 home win over the Portland Thorns last weekend cementing their status as one of the league’s best teams right now.

Yet, while results have clearly improved, and this is a tactics column, it’s difficult to discern major tactical changes. This Utah, in a lot of ways, operates in similar patterns to the 2024 version, a team that had just four points after 12 games.

Amy Rodriguez was head coach back then, and under her auspices, the goalkeeper would come out and get involved in build-up, with accurate long balls acting as an attacking launchpad. That goalkeeper was Mandy McGlynn, who remains Utah’s No.1 today and plays the exact same role.

In front of McGlynn were defensive players such as Kate Del Fava, Kaleigh Riehl and Ana Tejada, all of whom are equally important two years on. The fact that so many of the key defensive personnel remain the same is one explainer behind the lack of major tactical change. It’s a player’s game, after all.

Then assistant coach Jimmy Coenraets took over from Rodriguez midway through 2024, and one of his moves was to play Tejada in a defensive midfield role, as opposed to the center of defense. He also prefers to play two holding midfielders, as opposed to the one favored by Rodriguez. But these are small tweaks, not radical overhauls.