Atlético Ottawa fell to an opening-day defeat against Forge FC in Hamilton.
Two set pieces decided the match for the hosts, as Football Video Support (FVS) and the "Daylight Offside" rule were implemented in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) for the first time.
Here's everything Diego had to say after the match...
On the match overall:
You can't win [the tournament], and you cannot lose as well, in the first match. We've had a long pre-season, we've got some injuries, but I'm pretty happy with what I've seen today. We controlled the game, but we can not generate a lot of important [attacking] plays - and then in two set pieces we concede. I feel like we're in a good pathway.
On Atlético's style of play:
We need to improve in the final third. This way of playing is totally different. The players that we brought in have a lot of talent, but they need to start to understand the model - they need matches to understand. We're going to be better every match.
On the two teams' performances:
Forge is an important team; they deserve to win for sure. The game plan that they put in place was a resting defence against 11 young players. In this team, we work to create a legacy, something special, and I do not doubt that we will win a lot of matches this year.
On where his team must improve:
A lot of areas. Last season, we improved even into the final matches. This team must always be improving. I don't believe in being a high-performance coach or a high-performance player if you're not improving every single day. How you improve depends on the rival. The rival today gave us an opposition, and we needed to find a solution.
As I said before, from now until the end of the season, we will score one more goal than our rivals.
On embracing his second season in the CPL:
It's very special for me. First of all, for the opportunity. Then, Canada, you guys have a very good league. We need to improve in some things, but you have very good players. Now I'm a fan of this league. I want to create something special for me, for my team, but even for the league and the country - and that's the most important thing.
On how his team will progress in 2026:
You create the game model with the skills of the players. We are finding the best way to play with this group. I believe in my model and my principles, and the players do too. We need to play more matches. We had a long and weird pre-season. It was split and a new experience for us. This is a very young team but I trust in the players. You saw today that the idea is there and you know this team will be good.
On making the CPL's first-ever FSV challenge:
I am a believer that what is happening in the CPL is the best solution, and I am in support of the league and Canada Soccer for their decision to bring this in.
When you challenge, you're challenging the game, not the decision of the referee. We challenge the game for things that we see.
The first [goal] was a dangerous play. The defender's foot was raised as high as Noah Abanteh's face. The answer was 'the foot never touched the face'. If the foot touches his face, it's a foul. But even if the foot doesn't touch his face, it's an indirect free-kick. You don't need to touch the face to concede this.
The second [goal] is the same; it's a problem of interpretation. The defender touches the ball with his hand, and then immediately there's a goal. The rules say 'if the ball touches a hand and immediately there's a goal, then it's not a goal'. Even if the handball is not intentional. It's not a goal.
The problem isn't about the ability to challenge. It's the rules. We need to know the rules. I want to help Canada Soccer. I want to help the referees. I am challenging the game, not the decision of the referee.
On Daylight Offside Rule:
This rule, for the way Atlético plays, doesn't affect us much at all. My center-backs for most of the game are touching the rival's side of the pitch. We put more focus on counter-pressing than defending transitions. I put more focus on my center-backs stepping up. Maybe in the set-pieces, we need to defend a little differently. We just need to adapt; this is high-performance sport. We accept the rule.
On whether he likes the rule:
I'm not the one who chooses the rule. I'm the guy who needs to adapt to them. I like all the rules that make soccer. Other people will decide if it's good or not. I need to adapt. I see this as a opporunity to grow as a coach, and it will give me more tools in the future.
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