SAN JOSE — A colorful print of otherworldly soccer star Lionel Messi hangs on the wall of general manager Jesse Fioranelli’s office at Earthquakes’ headquarters.
Books of Spanish artist Joan Miro and Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti are neatly tucked under a coffee table that is adorned with individually wrapped chocolates.
This is the war room where Fioranelli, coach Chris Leitch and their staff will begin the heavy lifting of changing the fortunes of a Major League Soccer team that has qualified for the postseason only three times in the past decade.
The work is underway in the wake of a 5-0 shellacking last week in the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs where San Jose crash landed with every piece of debris leading to another question.