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.

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Game Changers: Four years after Kaepernick kneeled, a look at Bay Area sports leaders who stood before him 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.

The Earthquakes ended a five-year playoff drought despite a losing record of 13-14-7 and an embarrassingly bad goal differential of minus 21.

In a year former president Dave Kaval promised a more exciting style, San Jose tied Orlando City with the third-least goals in MLS — scoring 39 times. The Quakes also allowed 60 goals to tie D.C. United for the league’s fourth-worst defensive effort.

Then there was this pitiful low point: The team lost nine games by at least three goals, including the final match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

“This type of volatility we will not accept next season,” Fioranelli vowed Monday during an hourlong debriefing with four reporters.

While Fioranelli and Leitch were short on specifics they laid out their vision for the club’s long-term health, saying that as difficult as the 2017 season had been the decisions that led to so many crushing defeats were necessary.

“We didn’t want to shed that much skin,” Fioranelli said. “But all in all, the position that we’re in today we’re building something. We are in a better position than five months ago or 10 months ago to know what it takes in order to compete.”

Leitch, who replaced the fired Dominic Kinnear in midseason, seemingly will remain the coach heading forward though no announcement has been made.

He wouldn’t cite one priority for the 2018 season but said the Quakes can improve on every line.

This much is clear: The coach and his general manager are steadfast on keeping together a core group that has led to a directional shift the past season.

Management already has given signals that a slew of foreign newcomers signed this year will make up the backbone of the team moving forward.

Now, it’s about what happens next.

As Fioranelli previously told this news organization, the team plans to look closely at adding players from its United Soccer League affiliate in Reno, from its academy, the college draft and available foreigners.

“We’re in a very good position to make those signings in the next two months,” he said Monday. “As much as we care about the signing, we care about the integration of players.”

The executives declined to say much about the status of returning players as they sort through the rubble of the year. They also must decide who to make available for the expansion draft with Los Angeles Football Club entering the league in 2018.

Fioranelli promised that at least 90 percent of the ‘18 roster would be in place by the time training camp opens in late January.

“We don’t want to add just to add,” he said. “We have a solid roster to build from.”

It starts with captain Chris Wondolowski, who turns 35 in January. Despite his age, the Danville native should return for his 10th consecutive season by the way Fioranelli and Leitch talked about one of the most prolific goalscorers in MLS history.

Wondolowski had one of his best all-around seasons with a team-leading 13 goals and eight assists.

Goalkeeper David Bingham almost certainly will part ways as well as winger Cordell Cato.

After that, it’s guesswork.

Starters Victor Bernardez and Anibal Godoy are out of contract. Both had important roles in the final weeks to help San Jose squeeze into the playoffs with the final berth in the Western Conference.

But because MLS does not release contract information it is not easy to evaluate every player’s standing.

The biggest questions surround the futures of Fatai Alashe, Quincy Amarikwa, Andres Imperiale, Marc Pelosi, Shea Salinas and Kofi Sarkodie. For various reasons, they seem the most vulnerable although almost all of them had big moments this year.

Another question mark is designated player Simon Dawkins, who has a year left on his contract. The attacking midfielder struggled with injuries this season and once healthy didn’t factor into the lineup.

But the Englishman could get another chance to prove himself.

Many of the questions will be clearer come January.

“We’re in chapter two of a long book,” Firoanelli said.