Juan Guerra has good memories of Neill Collins as a teammate.

“He was crazy,” said Guerra this week. “He was. But also, someone that has a lot of character, and passion, and very similar to me. Being a defensive midfielder, I wasn’t complaining having Neill Collins as a center back behind me, because whatever was getting past me, Neill was taking care of it.”

During the 2016 season, the two shared the field regularly as players for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Guerra had been a holdover from the prior campaign and made 19 starts as a holding midfielder for the side. Collins, on the other hand, made 21 starts in his first season as he made the move to the United States for what would prove the final stop of his extensive playing career.

As both entered the coaching ranks – Collins moving straight into the Head Coaching position at the Rowdies midway through the 2018 season, and Guerra moving up the ranks to now lead Phoenix Rising FC – they remained friends and confidants. 

That friendship will briefly hit pause for a second time on Saturday night with the two serving as opposing Head Coaches when the Rowdies host Rising FC at Al Lang Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+). Honors ended even in Round 1 early last season when Guerra’s Oakland Roots SC side held the upper hand but couldn’t find a breakthrough against the Rowdies in a 0-0 draw at Laney Stadium.

Still, Guerra knows that even as the Rowdies’ results haven’t quite lived up to expectations so far this campaign, it would be a mistake to underestimate what Collins’ crew will bring this time out.

“[Neill is], in my opinion, one of the best coaches in this league,” said Guerra. “And I know a lot of people are thinking that Tampa Bay this year, they’re struggling and they’re not doing a good job. I think that the week that you think that – or if you’re the coach or team that approaches the week, thinking that way – it’s when Tampa is going to wake up. We’ve got to make sure that we approach this week with the right levels of responsibility and understanding who we’re facing and where we’re going.”

The Rowdies’ success in the past two seasons against Phoenix should ensure that focus. A 5-1 drubbing by Tampa Bay when the teams met last season in Arizona was a crucial moment in the seasons for both clubs. For the Rowdies it provided a springboard as they began a 13-game undefeated streak that included 11 victories. For Rising FC, it was an inflection point after which the side won only once in the 11 games that followed, eventually resulting in Rick Schantz’s departure and Guerra’s appointment.

Collins’ ability to consistently deliver results is something Guerra believes has been the biggest transformation for the Rowdies since the two were teammates. In 2016, Tampa Bay could call on players like former England international Joe Cole and others with top-level experience, but the side failed to mesh and finished ninth in the league standings.

By contrast, the Rowdies under Collins have grown into one of the USL Championship’s power teams, reaching the playoffs in every full season he’s been at the helm, and twice winning the Eastern Conference title. 

With Phoenix aiming to build on its 3-1 victory at home to Loudoun United FC last weekend, however, picking up three points would be the ideal takeaway against his friend and former teammate.

“It adds a bit, it makes it a bit more special, and also it makes the responsibility way bigger,” said Guerra. “[This is] an important month for us because of the games that we have and who we’re facing. We want to make sure that we start off on the right foot.”