LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC players and staff took a break from their preseason workouts on Thursday, with a trip for some rounds of paintball on the agenda as new and returning players got the chance to bond away from the field.

While the club’s success has made Louisville a target for other clubs in the USL over the past two seasons, there was one clear target for quite a few on the paintball range; Head Coach James O’Connor.

“Pretty painful, to be honest,” said O’Connor with a laugh on Friday as he addressed local media. “I was really disappointed with some of the guys’ attitude. They went straight for me all the time, I was really surprised, and I’m not just talking about the players.

“It was great,” he added with a slightly straighter face. “I think for the new players to meet some of the older guys and see them all joined together and have a little bit of fun was great, and for us it was really important exercise and something I’m glad we did.”

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O’Connor’s work on the sideline has been one of the keys to Louisville’s back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs in City’s first two seasons, and the attitude he brings to preseason has been a key foundation in that. With the side getting ready to head to the world-class facilities at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for a second consecutive year, the work ahead will also likely help foster the type of spirit O’Connor is looking for within his squad.

“People try to generate team spirit, and the best way of generating team spirit is through hard work,” said O’Connor. “If I’ve gone through something that’s really, really difficult, and I can look at you and know you’ve gone through what I’ve gone through and we’ve helped each other, you generate a bond and some spirit. That’s what the boys can look forward to.”

In terms of a base level, though, O’Connor has been pleased with the shape his players have returned in. As is common for clubs, Louisville gave its offseason fitness programs, and O’Connor said he was pleased with how strong his players were looking in the workouts the club has had so far this month. With a number of changes to the club’s roster this offseason, O’Connor said his biggest challenge was maintaining the standard that has brought the club success over the past two years.

“This year I think it’s been even more taxing because when you have had the success we’ve had the players coming in need to be of real quality,” O’Connor said. “It’s been a real challenge, to be honest, to bring guys in who we feel can help us get better. We feel we’ve managed to do that, we feel that we’ve brought some really good players, as well as great character.” 

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After the team had their fun on the paintball range, O’Connor is ready to get to work in Florida, and prepare this new group for a big season ahead.

“I think each year’s different,” O’Connor said. “I think you need to manage the group differently. I think for us the ambition is certainly always going to be there, so I think the first thing is to get the guys in, get some base fitness into them and then see how the preseason starts to shape up from there.”