Pablo Mastroeni Intent On Creating ‘Organic’ Relationship with Wounded RSL Fan Base

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Newly appointed Real Salt Lake Assistant Coach Pablo Mastroeni understands the concern many fans have expressed since the news broke that he will be a member of Freddy Juarez’s staff.

The Incident

Mastroeni has had a history of clashing with the RSL organization and its fans. In September of 2006, Mastroeni and his Colorado Rapids visited Rice Eccles Stadium in a game that would ultimately decide the final Western Conference playoff spot and the Rocky Mountain Cup after the last three encounters between the two sides ended with the points being split.

Why y’all mad? You know the drill … we take stuff from Colorado & make them a billion times better. pic.twitter.com/dcqEHblOyG

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 5, 2021

The Rapids eventually won 1-0, but Mastroeni, who normally played as a defensive midfielder was playing as a center back, which forced him to spend more time closer to the heckling home fans.

“As the game wore on, their fans started to get a little bit more edgy,” Mastroeni told MLSSoccer.com. “We were winning, and their fans were just being ruthless … there’s this group of guys just giving it to me, and it had nothing to do soccer, but it was really harsh. And I just kept saying to myself, ‘You hold on here, you got to get these guys going – you got to find a way to make the guys eat their words.’ That’s how bad they’re giving it to us.”

Following the conclusion of the game, Mastroeni took off his shirt and shoved it down the front of his shorts in a gesture that he later said represented Colorado having RSL in their pocket. However, many RSL fans did not interpret the gesture that way.

The rivalry was officially alive.

Why Freddy wanted Pablo on his staff pic.twitter.com/wYi6kLxeVy

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 5, 2021

Patience Is A Virtue

“Well obviously that will take time,” Mastroeni said when asked how he plans on endearing himself to the RSL faithful. “It is more predicated upon my behavior and the way I conduct myself within Freddy’s staff. I think ultimately the success of our team will help acquiesce some of those feelings.”

Mastroeni continued to acknowledge the situation by suggesting his actions from when he was 20 may not have been the best decisions, now that he has had time to look back on them. But life is all about growing and moving forward. Learning from your mistakes and growing as a person.

“Endearing myself in a way that isn’t forced but that is organic and it is a byproduct of the success of this club and I think that is the easiest and most authentic way to achieve that,” Mastroeni added.