Sports

Hurst believed a 'pretty real talk' was needed after NM United's last match against Phoenix

Nairavoice · Jun 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Greg Hurst doesn’t shy away from his Scottish roots.

It’s certainly apparent in his accent. Unsurprisingly in his underdog pick for the World Cup, too. Or even how the New Mexico United forward goes about his business on the pitch.

Hurst, self-admittedly, isn’t always great at hiding his emotions. Sometimes, he knows that can get him into trouble. Other times, it can have the opposite effect.

At least, that’s what Hurst was hoping when he gathered his teammates on the field for a “pretty real talk” right after the 3-0 drubbing United received at rival Phoenix Rising FC in a regular-season matchup on April 11.

“Looking back on it, a couple of (the) boys just wanted to talk about it and there’s no point sometimes in keeping things to yourself,” Hurst said Thursday ahead of Saturday’s rematch against Rising, at home, in the USL Cup. “It’s good to get it out in the open, and that’s what competing and wanting to win is.

“There’s going to be difficult times, there’s going to be good times and it’s all about, as harsh as you can be (in those moments), sticking together, and at no point I ever felt the group didn’t stick together.”

Hurst’s main message? Don’t expect to just show up for matches and win. Training and playing for United is a job, treat it as such or others will.

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It sounds simple and rather standard — and it is — but those “healthy” talks, as Hurst called them, can also be the most appreciative.

“It’s good to have those conversions rather than leave it for later,” forward Niall Reid-Stephen said. “The conversation was about getting the guys back to where we want to be. Some take it personal, but we’re all grown men, so you gotta deal with it.”

It’s a move manager Dennis Sanchez supports. The coaching staff can only say so much. At some point, any accountability or ownership has to be player-driven. They are, after all, the ones on the pitch.

Since that 3-0 loss, United has seen some benefits. The club has gone 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-2 in USL Championship play. One of those overall wins came against League One-side AV Alta FC in the USL Cup, while one of the losses came at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the same tournament. Sanchez rested the majority of his starters in that 4-0 loss.

More importantly, New Mexico has earned eight points in the Western Conference standings, putting the club seventh on the 12-team table. United is currently tied with El Paso Locomotive FC with 14 total points.

“We talked about taking more of a village approach, especially at the beginning of the year,” Sanchez said. “And guys feeling like if it’s Greg one game or (defender) Kipp (Keller) one game, Niall, whoever it is, whoever feels in the moment that we’re not adhering to our standard, which I think has been a big focus of how we can find more consistency … and every time we step on the field to one, cherish it, be present, know this is a very difficult league, that’s something that we’re saying in here almost every single day on the field.

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“I think the more people that are saying it and recognizing those moments in real time, halftime, whenever it is, I have no problem and want to encourage those types of discussions. And we’re open in good times, too.”

Honesty, sometimes, can be the best policy. How and when that’s communicated tends to help, too.

Just ask Hurst.

“This league is not easy, every game is a challenge, and I was super proud of how the boys reacted to that (talk),” Hurst said. “I think we’ve seen that in recent weeks and it’s just continuing to understand that every game is a dogfight, every game is a battle and if we turn up ready to fight, we’ll do it.”

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.