September 6, 2024...CPL Vancouver FC vs York United FC preview (from York United FC website)

'The collective is the key': Mora preaches togetherness ahead of crucial Vancouver clash
The Nine Stripes have picked up one point from the last available nine but can get right back on track with victory in BC.

Given Benjamín Mora is a fan of control, it's unlikely he would enjoy the risk attached with blackjack.

Still, with seven league games remaining in the regular season, 21 is the magic number for The Nine Stripes and his objective is clear: pick up as many as possible and avoid having to rely on anyone else but themselves.

When Mora arrived and enjoyed some immediate success, he warned of the moment when teams would start to figure him out: his style, his preferred systems. In Winnipeg back on August 11th, The Nine Stripes were frustrated for long periods and needed Austin Ricci to come off the bench and tap home a game-winner on 77 minutes. Afterwards, Mora spoke of how Valour boss Phil dos Santos had come prepared and expertly handled the York approach. Since then, games have continued to be tight and with Mora also dealing with injury issues and suspensions, it's relatively unsurprising that points have been surrendered in recent weeks. Still, with two losses and a draw from their last three fixtures, the tide has to turn to keep the championship dreams alive.

Next up: fifth-placed Vancouver FC at Willoughby Park tonight.

"We can't rely on on one or two players and the coach's motivational speeches," Mora said in his pre-game press conference.

"We have to work on our basics: our system, our methodology, our model of play, our principles, our concepts and then we're going to win games."

In recent weeks, the entire group - players and technical staff - have been wearing customized baseball caps with a clear message on display: 'we are going far together'.

Mora explained the reasons behind it.

"If we're not together, none of this will work. The collective is the key. Together, we get closer to winning more games than losing. We believe in the message that if you go fast, you go alone. If you go far, you go together. And together means all of our staff: the office, the coaches, the players who go on the pitch and fight for us."

"We need to continue working on our style, demanding the best from our players. But I believe in them. I believed in them from the first minute that I got here. And this won't stop. The next seven games will be war for us. 21 points and we'll try to get as many as possible. We have difficult games, like everyone else. Even the teams towards the bottom want to come back and rescue things. The question for us is how many points we can reach in order to achieve our goals and be at the top."

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