Vassell shrugs off ‘bad day at the office’

Western Bureau:

National midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell says that while he could have had a better performance against Guyana in the Concacaf Nations League on Monday, he is confident of doing better in his next appearance.

The Reggae Boyz were held 1-1 by the 'Golden Jaguars' in their final Group C game in League B, at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. Vassell, who started the game on the left side of Jamaica's attack, could not find his rhythm and after being caught offside three times in the first half, he was eventually substituted midway the second half.

But Vassell says his performance was just what he describes as a "bad day at the office."

"Honestly, you're going to feel disappointed because you know what you are capable of doing and was never sure of what you did on the day," Vassell told STAR Sports. "However, one can only use it as a lesson going forward. There is no way anxiety got the better of me. There are going to be moments when you have off days and that was just one of those moments.

"I'll have to go back to the drawing board and see what I did wrong and look to improve on it going forward into the next game."

Vassell, who is focused on nailing down his spot in both the national team and at his club, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in Major League Soccer (MLS), said despite the difference in coaches and playing styles, he believes he just has to work hard on raising his standard of play.

"It's two different coaches and everyone is going to have their style of play. It's just all in the mind on how to put it out there. It's a different Messi at Barcelona from the one at Argentina. However, it doesn't matter where you play, the standard still remains the same. So it doesn't matter if I'm home or away there is always that high standard that I have to live up to," Vassell said.

Vassell, who was signed by LAFC in January, was sent on loan to United Soccer League club Phoenix Rising FC in August after he struggled to get game time in the record-setting MLS regular season team with MVP Carlos Vela.

"That (getting into the first team) is something I am always working on," he said. "It comes down to working as hard as possible. It is a great team, so I know it's going to take a lot of work but it's all in the process."