Head Coach Adrian Heath
On the pecking order of the attack…
“Well it certainly gives me food for thought moving forward. The one thing we knew and we spoke about during the week – I spoke to you all about it – is about our depth that we’ve got. I think was very apparent in the U.S. Open Cup game midweek. The first half was a competition of who could give the ball away the most, them or us. It wasn’t a good spectacle. Two teams giving the ball away frequently. No real sustained pressure from any team, no really good combination from any team. The second half we were a little bit better, but I can’t stand up here and say that the subs didn’t change the game, because they did. And obviously that’s something we will have to think about moving forward.”
On the three wins this week…
“I did say to the staff that we’ve got a huge week coming up for us. Obviously with the two home games and the cup tie away on the back of the fact that we lost the two previous [games], so it’s been a huge week for us. Really satisfying week. We got the blow, with the news about Hassani [Doston], which was devastating for everybody. None more so than the boy. But to come through the week like we have done. We’ve scored eight goals, so it’s been good.”
On the team performance…
“It’s still not where we would like to be. I think we are getting better, but we are not where we want to be. I still don’t think we have put together a really consistent 90 minutes together. It bodes well that we are winning games and I think we will get a little bit more confidence after the week we’ve had. Because no matter what I say to the players, the most important thing is winning games to instill a bit of confidence in the group. The result today will help in that respect.”
On Robin Lod as a false nine role…
“He is a really talented footballer, regardless of where we play him. I speak to the coaches after the game, we’ll have a drink before they go and Robin’s name invariably crops up for the oppositio,n whether he plays wide right coming in on his left or and then you see his goal, he’s got great feet. He can do a bit of everything – he’s got work rate. I can't deny that he gave us a lift when he went up there, which is important. I’m pleased for Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] to get a goal and to make a goal; he will probably claim two… it’s amazing when the quality is in the right space for free kicks as we proved in midweek. We have obviously got a huge weapon in Kervin [Arriaga] because the one thing about him is – obviously he’s got the physical attributes – but he’s has a determination to get on the end of it. ‘veI played with players who are bigger than Kervin who never seem to head the ball. This kid wants to go and head it and go to where it hurts to head it. That’s why he got his goal.”
On Reynoso finding his form…
“He got better as the game went on. As we got more and more into the game and got more controlled possession, we were starting to get him in the right spots. As I’ve said before, he’s an MVP talent, we have to make sure he gets that consistency but I feel as though he is getting there now and the fact that his family is here will be a huge boost for him. I feel as though he’s just starting to click into the gear that we know he can. If we want to do what or I think we are capable of, there’s no doubt we will need a fit and healthy and very, very in form [Emanuel] Reynoso.”
On Oniel Fisher’s performance tonight…
“The reason we brought him in is he can play left and right back. Which is invaluable in the league. We played Hassani there, but he goes down, Romaine [Metanire] sort of coming back, but looks as though he is two or three weeks away. The fact that we can bring in an MLS veteran in, who has been through the league, he’s seen it and done it, he knows what to expect, it’s a big bonus for us. He gets on with his job in his own little way, but at times we could’ve got a bit more quality out of him in wide areas and deeper positions, but defensively he was very good, in the right spot.”
On Hassani Dotson’s injury…
“It was non-contact, as most of them injuries are. It’s a sad day for us all because I just felt that he was really starting to come into his own. It’s a big blow for everybody, but none more so than him. He’s a strong boy. Mentally, he’s a very strong kid as well. One of his strengths is his physicality, he’s got big strong thigh muscles and I think that will all help. He will be back at the beginning of next year.”
On the depth at midfield spot and bringing in reinforcements…
“We get a little bit of relief from him [Hassani Dotson] in terms of his roster spot and financially we can do it. We will see. It’s the reason we have as squad of players…you all know my feelings about Joseph Rosales. We’ve got Oniel Fisher there, we think Romain [Metanire] will be a few weeks away. I’m not going to do it just for the sake of doing it. If I’m bringing somebody in it’s going to have to be somebody that we will be bringing in for the long term."
On the defense improvements…
“If you look at our defensive record over the last two or three years, it's always been in the top. Not number one, but top five or six. We have two really good, dependable centerbacks, the keeper has done well when we’ve needed him. Dayne [St. Clair] has not really had an awful lot to do, but that goes for everybody. The back four and the protection in front. Defensively, I don’t worry we are going to concede goals. I don’t think we are very porous at this moment and I feel as though we can cope with most teams. It’s the offense that has been an issue up until now. We’ve got eight goals in a week and hopefully we can build on that and start gaining some confidence.”
On the field conditions…
“The field is not in great condition at this time and that’s not helping us at all. Especially now the weather – hopefully - is changed, god forbid we get more snow… hopefully now we are getting some decent weather and get the grass growing and start to get onto the type of surface we have been used to the last year or so.”
On potential penalty on Kemar Lawrence at the end of first half…
“On first impressions maybe. I thought the red card for their guy [Federico Navarro] was a bit harsh. It’s one of them where I think if it was you, you’d be really disappointed. I don’t think he really caught him. End of the day I’ve got enough to worry about, not the referee's decisions.”
On Wil Trapp suspension…
“We’ve spoken about it, the speed of the game now and the fact that he is generally a deeper-lying midfield player, he might be the first line of defense in terms of a counter attack. There’s a lot of teams these days who play on the counter. So the fact that he gets booked in the first half means for the rest of the game, he’s got to be near perfect every time he challenges for a ball. Not just today or any day, I think we get yellow cards for anything…you nearly had to kill someone, when I played, to get a yellow card or get a booking. These days looking at somebody and running into them is enough. So, it’s not ideal, and it’s something we have spoken about. He puts himself in a really bad position in terms of not being able to make one mistake in whatever may be the remaining part of the game.”
Midfielder Robin Lod
On the performance the team put up this week with three games…
“I think we are in a great spot now, and we had some good games and some confident wins, and it's really nice to build up from there.”
On his goal today…
“Yeah, I wanted to get the ball from Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] and as soon as I got the ball, I saw the defender coming so fast and I tried to just get past him, and luckily this time it worked.”
On his footwork, and training resulting in the goal…
“I think it’s a little bit of both. I have known this move since I was a kid but today it worked.”
On the team's substitution and his false nine position…
“The guys are playing really well and when the subs come on a little bit late on the second half, I think Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] and Abu [Danladi] brings a lot of speed in the game and that helps us for playing against tired legs of the oppositions defense so it has been working.”
On the team's feelings from this week’s successes…
“I mean the guys were happy for sure. It wasn’t the flawless game, I mean the first half wasn’t good enough in how we can play but now we had good wins, and as I’ve said before it’s a nice way to go forward.”
On his teammate Hasani Dotson’s injury…
“I am devastated for him. These injuries are never easy, and I feel really bad for him because he is such a great player who has a lot of potential and he’s still very young and gets better every year and now he’s gonna miss this season and I feel really bad for him. But I am sure he is gonna be back and be even better for sure.”
On Emmanuel Reynoso’s performance last couple weeks…
“Yeah, everybody knows how good of a player he is since he’s been here. As a team we struggle so it's hard for the individual to do well, and when the team plays better as a team the individuals look better and he’s the one who’s raising our ceiling. He has been playing really well the last few games, and I hope he keeps going like this.”
On what hasn’t been working between him, Reynoso, Franco Fragapagne, and Luis Amarilla…
“It’s a lot of things. I mean it’s still kinda early in the season. But we keep trying to do our things, and I think there’s situations where we are playing well, and it’s a few better choices in the final third and the final pass, I think we will score more goals. So I think it’s a matter of fact on the small things in the final passes and final decisions we make but I am not concerned about this for sure.”
On his performance when playing in the middle…
“I mean the closer you are to the goal, I think you can be more dangerous for sure. But yeah, I don’t know what to answer on that, I am just happy to be playing and helping the team wherever I play.”
On the past lack of goals…
“Yeah, I mean it’s a little bit of the fact that everybody wants to score so much that we are so eager to go forward. Sometimes I think that if we take it a little bit slower in some situations and make a little bit more better decisions it will help us. But, yeah I am waiting for the next games to get going.”
On the experiences of the fans and the tifo presented…
“Yeah, I even saw it and I thought it was great. It gets a little bit more extra to go there in the field and play for the fans. They’ve been amazing since I've been here and I am always happy to play in Allianz Field in front of the fans and these small things give a little more extra for sure.”
Defender Oniel Fisher
On three wins this week…
“I think we’ve been focused on wanting to win games. As a group we know what the goal is and we know what we’re going to do each and every game. The last three games we’ve played, three wins as you said, was massive for us. Moving forward, motivation for the team, for the club is big and those three games are important.”
On the impact of Hasani Dotson’s injury…
“That one is a tough one to take into consideration being that I've been through the same ACL kind of injury. It's a tough one to think about. I just have to grab the opportunity by the hand and man up and be like it's time to go in and do the job. Next man up. We came out on top today and we did what we did. Also we had it in mind to fight this one for Hassani [Dotson].”
On the difference between the first half and the second half…
“I think first half it took us the whole 45 minutes. That’s too long. If we’re gonna do that we’re not gonna win much games. We have to from the get go, get it together and play as a team. I think as coach said, it was a more individual first half than a team. Second half we came out and we got it together. We started to do what we practiced and the result was, not exactly what we wanted but we came out on top.”
On receiving an elbow to the jaw during the game…
“Yeah, it was a play to Rey [Emmanuel Reynoso] or I think it was Abu [Abu Danladi], but I don't remember. I played it in, Bo [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] played it back to me and I tried to chip it up and the guy just went through with his elbow into my jaw. I’m feeling weird right now, but I'm fine. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right?”
On hearing Wonderwall at the end of the game…
“It’s awesome. The fans are wonderful, man. I like the atmosphere, it's pretty nice and the fans are something to give credit to. They stuck it out with us the whole way as well. They cheered from the first minute to the end of the game and after the game. I think they deserve this one as well.”
On what changed after the subs came in…
“I think those guys came in and brought energy to the team. I think that's what gave us this win today as well. The energy, the drive to wanna play forward and go at guys, to open up space for different players and to give Rey [Emmanuel Reynoso] the opportunity to get into good spots. As you see on the first goal from Rey, he had an opportunity to get into a good spot because someone else was driving with the ball. That also helped us. Once Rey is on the ball he can do a lot of things and it says it in the first goal.”
On possible nicknames for the Jamaican fullbacks on the team…
“Whatever you guys want to use, we're fine with it. We grew up playing together as well. We’re fine with whatever, we’re pretty cool and easy going. Pretty jovial too so whatever you guys choose we’re fine with it.”
