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Bravery, Belief Form Red Wolves’ Identity Under Obleda

By CAMERON KOUBEK - cameron.koubek@uslsoccer.com, 03/03/21, 10:45AM EST

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Chattanooga head coach enters second season with confidence


Ahead of his second season at the helm in Chattanooga, Obleda has built a squad with young and talent players all over the field / Photo courtesy Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

In his first season as Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach, Jimmy Obleda’s team produced some of League One’s most exciting soccer. Last year, Chattanooga finished third in the league in goals-per-game, and coupled that with a defense which allowed the fourth-fewest goals-per-game.

Back for a second campaign in 2021, Obleda is looking to build on his side’s high-energy style of play.

“We have an idea of not just how we want to play, but how we want to be,” said Obleda. “There’s a certain DNA that the players we’re looking for need to have, off the field and especially on the field. At this level, there’s a lot of good soccer players, but the difference is the ones that are willing to do the extra little intangibles.”

That strategy has led to one of League One’s most interesting offseasons, as the Red Wolves have brought in quality signings from both within USL and from Central and South America. Daniel Navarro, Jorge Luna, and former U.S. youth international Jonathan Esparza are just a few in the long list of defensive additions, while forwards Rafa Mentzingen and Juan Galindrez offer an exciting dynamic in attack.

The crop of new signings, mixed with talented returners like Ricky Ruiz, Marky Hernandez and Jason Ramos, has Obleda optimistic about the club’s ambition to close the gap to last season’s top teams.

“We’re looking for guys who are young and hungry,” said Obleda. “These guys who are willing to do that little extra are going to make the biggest difference in helping bring us to the top.”


Obleda employs an exciting style of soccer, under which the Red Wolves scored the third-most goals per game in League One last season / Photo courtesy Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Though the Red Wolves play an aggressive, swashbuckling style, there’s been a noticeable emphasis on defense in the club’s 2021 roster build. Obleda says that focus stems from the thin margins which separated Chattanooga from contending for a spot in the League One Final during last season’s final weeks.

Of the five games the Red Wolves lost during the 2020 campaign, only one was decided by a multiple-goal margin. The opposition goals which cost Chattanooga points in those four one-goal losses all arrived in the second half, and two of them were scored later than the 80th minute. It’s an area Obleda is dedicated to improving this season.

“There were some goals we gave up last year that we have to correct and not give up this year,” said Obleda. “We can’t say enough how happy we are with Jonathan Ricketts and Ricky Ruiz, guys that didn’t really play defensive positions but took them on. Jason Ramos was solid. Now you add the quality of Luna and Navarro among others, the defense keeps solidifying, and of course you’re not going to lose many games if you don’t give up goals.


Obleda gives mid-game instructions to midfielder Ualefi / Photo courtesy Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

“The defense was a priority for us. We want to build a certain profile for players that we want to bring in, so that as one leaves, the next can fill in and understand his role right away.”

With a promising and ambitious squad at his disposal, Obleda aims to continue strengthening the identity he began building last year, one built on a confident mentality and a commitment to playing attractive soccer.

“I don’t think there was a game last year that people didn’t think we could win. Our mentality was that wherever we went, whether it was North Texas, Madison, Greenville, we always were brave and had the attitude that we’re going to come and get a result here,” said Obleda. “We’re going to play soccer that’s going to put you on your heels and get you backed up, create scoring opportunities and score goals. This is a team people can identify as being courageous.

In addition to the obvious objectives of winning matches and making a run at the League One title, Obleda’s target is to create a clearly-defined style of play for his team that fans can expect to see each match.

Obleda mentioned his respect for Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa, noting that although Bielsa’s teams don’t always win, they are known for sticking to their principles.

“Anyone who turns on the TV or comes to watch us play can say that we’re a different type of team to what they’re used to seeing,” said Obleda. “We believe in what we do. We believe in how we approach games. We believe in the passion we have to play and get after it and get results with our style of play. We want to build something where people know that when they watch the Red Wolves play, it’s going to be a very exciting style of soccer.”


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