Course Correction: Inside CITY SC’s latest press conference after the firing of Olof Mellberg

By Henry Chappell

@Henry_C81

In a frank and introspective press conference this week, CITY executives Diego Gigliani and Lutz Pfannenstiel laid bare the reasoning behind the club's decision to dismiss head coach Olof Mellberg.

CITY has been a project built around a clear philosophy. High-intensity pressing, youth integration, community engagement, and a refusal to compromise on a front-foot style of play.

When Mellberg was hired just five months ago, leadership believed they had found a coach who embodied that ethos. But as Gigliani and Pfannenstiel both admitted this week: the fit never quite clicked.

Gigliani didn't shy away from the front-office's role in the situation.

"Lutz and I both take full responsibility for where we are," Gigliani said. "We're reflecting on that recruitment process… to see what we can learn so we can minimize the chances of this happening again."

Pfannenstiel, the club's sporting director and the architect of CITY's playing identity, emphasized that this wasn't just about results — though they've been rough — but about a lack of alignment.

"We want to be a pressing team," Pfannenstiel said, "Unfortunately, we did not really see that once the season started."

That disconnect between philosophy and execution — not just form — was the tipping point. 

Taking the reins for now is academy head coach David Critchley, a name familiar to anyone who follows CITY2 or the club's youth development pipeline.

Critchley led his first training session Wednesday. Pfannenstiel called it a "reset" moment.

"He's been with us from day one. He knows the style. He knows the players. He deserves this chance," Lutz said.

Importantly, Gigliani emphasized that this interim period is not an audition under pressure for Critchley. Whether he stays in the role or returns to CITY2, "that is success," Gigliani added.

While there was plenty of self-reflection in the room, the mood was unmistakably forward-looking. Pfannenstiel acknowledged the poor start but insisted the team can still salvage the season:

"We still believe we have the tools, " Pfannenstiel said. "There are 57 points to play for. The players have not given up."

CITY's next full-time hire will be the third head coach in less than two years — a reality that both execs acknowledged as far from ideal

Pfannenstiel was clear that the next coach — MLS-experienced or not — must align with CITY's style.

"We need a coach who fits our philosophy," Pfannenstiel said. "That's non-negotiable. We want to press. We want to entertain. We want to develop players."

MLS experience would be a bonus, they admitted, but not at the expense of identity. There's no sugarcoating where the team stands. From a hot expansion season to a slow sophomore slump, fans have now seen both sides of the CITY project. It's now a question of what the response will be.

Up Next: 

St. Louis will return home to Energizer Park for a home matche against the San Jose Earthquakes on May. 31 at 1:30 p.m, followed by a trip to Portland on Jun. 8 at 6:00 p.m.