While FC Cincinnati fans had received player apologies for poor performances in the past, there was a different feel about Luciano Acosta's Monday night Twitter post.
For Acosta, FC Cincinnati's second-year captain, taking ownership publicly of a disappointing showing – in this case, it was the season-opening 5-0 loss to Austin FC – was a noticeable deviation.
In the past, Acosta might have been described as a soft-spoken leader in the company of the media. He also presented a sometimes-demonstrative on-field posture, which evoked criticism from fans.
But after the club's showing in Austin, Acosta publicly claimed the loss as a personal failing.
"I thought it was necessary to apologize to the fans first, who are the ones who are always with us," Acosta said Thursday via a team interpreter. "And show them that I am the captain and to show that my job is to be united with the many fans, leaders and players.
"First, as captain, I needed to speak for the group and, as I just said, apologize because it is not how we wanted to start. I needed to do it myself. I do not like to talk. I do not like to talk a lot. I like to show on the field what I can do but I am the captain and I have to take responsibility and put the group on my back and lead.”
While Cincinnati supporters obviously would have preferred a performance that didn't require an apology, the message landed well with supporters on social media channels.
More:Takeaways: What we learned from FC Cincinnati's loss at Austin FC
The apology was also well-received by Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan, who noted Acosta's growing capacity for leadership.
"What we've seen in the time that we've worked together is that he's continued to grow, being asked to do more as a leader of this team," Noonan said. "I think that (Twitter) comment was a sign of him moving in a positive direction but it's certainly not on Lucho. This is on all of us. We all take those results together.
"He's brave to take ownership there but it's all of us. We know that we need to be better as a collective, and that includes Lucho. It's a good sign but hopefully that message is received in a way where he's speaking on behalf of all of us. We know we need to be better for the club, for the fans. They'll see better, and hopefully when we step on the field Saturday, they're gonna see a better version of ourselves."
Noonan said Acosta's decision to address the loss on social media arose organically, didn't require Noonan's input or permission, and that he "had no issue with it whatsoever."
In the past, public apologies from FC Cincinnati players have fallen flat. The messages, while well-intentioned, were seldom backed up with on-field results.
Case-in-point: Apologies resulted from a 5-0 loss to New York City FC on April 24, 2021. A week later, Cincinnati lost, 3-0, at Orlando City SC with Orlando opening the scoring 30 seconds into the match.
So far, Noonan said, the response has been positive to the Austin FC defeat ahead of Saturday's TQL Stadium home opener against D.C. United.
"It was a good response. We had some good conversations early in the week just in terms of the result and how it got there, things that we can improve on," Noonan said. "Small details – certainly things that when you look back at the game, are fixable and easy to identify. And then there's some situations that we looked at where, 'how can we be better and more consistent with our defensive shape and some of the rotations?' And when we're moving forward with the ball, finishing plays off... I said it before: I was very pleased with how we created chances. Now it's about execution and finding ways to get confident in finishing those plays off."
Acosta agreed with Noonan's assessment, saying he felt the team has a different mindset.
"I think a team with a different mentality, wanting to show this game that the previous one was an error," Acosta said. "It wasn't what we wanted, and we see ourselves as very responsible and eager to remedy this situation.”
How Junior Moreno ended up at FC Cincinnati
In discussing his arrival to FC Cincinnati last week, Junior Moreno immediately identified Acosta as a key player in FCC's recruitment efforts.
Moreno's MLS rights were acquired by FC Cincinnati from D.C. United in exchange for $250,000 in general allocation money, plus up to $175,000 in incentives. Moreno then signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2023.
Moreno's arrival to FCC satisfied a glaring need in the midfield, where he'll occupy the No. 6 role.
It also sees him reunite with Acosta after the two players enjoyed a successful period together at D.C. United.
Not surprisingly, Acosta was on the leading edge of FCC's push to land Moreno.
"Obviously, he's a great person. He's a great friend (from) three years ago," Moreno said of Acosta. "We keep in touch in the offseason and we have a good connection. We had it in D.C. and I hope it's the same here."
Moreno, FC Cincinnati defensive midfielder, met for the first time with local media members at the Mercy Health Training Center on Thursday and detailed what sounded like a months-long pursuit by the club to land him.
More:Here's why Junior Moreno's addition to FC Cincinnati matters
Moreno, an active contributor to Venezuela's senior men's national team, said FC Cincinnati assistant coach Ricardo Paez, a former Venezuela international, also played a role in his decision to move to FCC.
"Of course. We had some conversation in the offseason," Moreno said of Paez. "And vacation, I was in Orlando with my family and he was there too. Obviously, we keep that communication (between us)... He said he'd like me to come here."
At the conclusion of the 2021 season, D.C. United made an offer to extend the out-of-contract Moreno's stay. Terms weren't agreed, but United retained his MLS rights.
While Moreno went without an MLS preseason, he was in camp with the Venezuelan national team. He dressed for the Jan. 28 match against Bolivia and earned a cap Feb. 1 against Uruguay.
Given that national camp, it wasn't as if Moreno arrived to FCC walking in off the street cold.
Moreno was immediately inserted into FC Cincinnati's setup as a starter against Austin. His contribution wasn't match-altering but it did provide a firm foundation to build on.
Moreno played 70 minutes in the loss to Austin. He completed two tackles, 84.2% of his passes, and that was on less than a week of training with his new teammates.
“I think it will help a lot. He is a national team player," Acosta said of Moreno. "I know him very well, we know each other, we have a very good connection on the field. You maybe could not see it in the last game but this game you will see. You will be able to see it and you will see the help that is going to be for us do and that connection we have is going to be great.”
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