Guillermo Sánchez knows communication is about more than just speaking the same language.
Soccer is a global game. Most clubs include players from countries around the world, so a language barrier is something players and coaches will frequently run into.
Communication on the field is one thing. Players can learn basic directions and navigate training sessions with a few basic words.
But when things go wrong, when players need to talk about things that are bothering them or pull a teammate aside, there must be a level of understanding that goes beyond just language.
“When you have a team of a lot of cultures — I think we have around 12 … if you count coaching staff and staff, we have a lot more than that — it’s important for them to get to know each other so any type of communication can flow better,” said Sánchez, Orlando City’s mental coach and video analyst.