João Klauss interview: “From day one, this team was something different”

It’s been just eight months since St. Louis City SC and João Klauss made their MLS debuts, but both team and player have made a huge impression in their maiden seasons.

St. Louis have become the first expansion team to top their conference and they can break the all-time expansion team record for most points with a win against Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

Klauss, a 26-year-old striker, has been one of the undisputed stars of the St. Louis story and leads the teams for goals. The Brazilian forward missed four months of the season due to injury but has become a fans’ favourite with his hard-working performances and knack for finding crucial goals. Last week it was announced that only Lionel Messi has sold more MLS shirts than Klauss this season.

Ahead of the playoffs AS USA caught up with João Klauss to reflect on a historic regular season in St. Louis. Here’s what he had to say...

João, it’s St. Louis’ first season in MLS and you’re top in the West! What’s the mood like in the team?

“It’s good, I think we surprised a lot of people. We always had it in mind that we could reach the playoffs, but it’s gone even better than we thought.”

You have a lot of experience in Europe but this time you were joining a new team, with new players and a new manager; what was that like?

“It was great to build from zero, I think it was a pleasure for all of us to be always the first one to do everything. The first to use the facilities, the first to use the stadium, the first on the training field. It was a great experience, but even better has been being successful on the field.”

Did that situation help build a stronger team spirit?

“I think there were eight of us who arrived about six months before everyone else. We arrived in July so we were training for an extra six months together, then in January the next 18-20 players arrived. I always say that from day one the team chemistry that we had was different. The sessions that we had were always fun, everyone was talking together like they had been friends for years.”

“Of course there was a lot of meetings and team building, and that was very important, but I think it was just natural.”

There’s been a real bond with the fans this season, how has that felt on the pitch?

“Yeah they are incredible. We started the season the way that we did and this is a soccer city, so everyone had been waiting for this moment.”

“Everyone was really excited and I think that helped to build this relationship with the fans. It was a combination of things but going unbeaten for the first five games really helped.”

How important was the opening day win over Austin FC?

“It was very important. Austin finished second in the West last year so it was a really tough place to start. But we were talking and we said that this could be a huge opportunity for us to show the league that we were not just a bunch of guys playing for fun. We joined the league to compete against everyone.”

“Of course, it could have gone in the other way. But it was a great opportunity to start the league in the right way and build a lot of confidence.

Did you and the team set any targets for the season?

“Of course! We have individual targets but also as the team. I think coach [Bradley] Carnell did a great job because he split our objectives into units of six games across the season. The leadership of the team were able to sit down and explain the goals, how many points we want to have in the next six.

“We had this really clear throughout the season. Sometimes we did more, sometimes we did less. But I think by the end of the season we’re looking pretty good.”

Only Lionel Messi has sold more shirts that you in MLS this season! What does that say about your connection with the fans?

“Yeah I really felt that connection from day one, but I think it’s a little bit unfair, the competition against Messi! It wasn’t even in my head at the start of the season. I played nine games then had a long-term injury, I was out for four months, so I didn’t expect that they would be so patient and so excited for me to come back again.”

“Every time I met the fans [while I was injured] they said nice words and that really helps in the bad times. It’s an honour for us to represent the city and the fans every single weekend.”

St. Louis have the best attacking record in the West this season, how does that happen in a team full of new players?

“We all bought into the idea that Bradley [Carnell] and the coaches showed us from the first day. They had a pretty clear philosophy of how they wanted to play and the players bought into it.”

“I played in Germany before under Oliver Glasner, a coach that was playing a similar way to how we play here. Lutz [Pfannenstiel, sporting director] was at Hoffenheim... I think that German connection has really helped.”

“From day one we started training the way we want to play, with players trying to get better every single day. We have a lot of inter-squad competition. It’s not just in the game, our training sessions are very intense and very competitive. I think this shows the characters we have here. The way we play in the games is how we train all week.”

Have any more targets been set as you approach the playoffs?

“We have our target for the last game, to beat the record for the best expansion team in points set by LAFC.”

“The playoffs are a bit different to what I’m used to but it’s exciting. We’ve played a very good season up to now, but now it’s the really important part of the season. We have the advantage of playing at home and that is a motivation for us. If we go through we have another game with our fans, with the city.”

“The atmosphere we have here makes it a pleasure to fight for the city, fight for the fans and fight for the club. We are really excited for the next steps.”

You now have the chance of making MLS history in the playoffs. What would it mean to do that for St. Louis?

“We have already proved that we are capable of fighting against every team in the league, especially here in this stadium in St. Louis. At the end of the day, winners are the ones who make history. In 10, 15 years there will be new players here with new coaches and they will remember us if we really do something for the club and the city.”

“Of course we know that we have a big chance. We know that there’s a lot of good teams in the league but we’ve already done a lot. We will believe until the last day and we will do our best to reach our goals.”