Minnesota United suffered a 2-0 loss to Chicago Fire on the road Saturday night. Here's what the the team had to say following the final whistle.
MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On the team's performance against Chicago...
"Disappointing. I don't think we ever really got going this evening. Showed a little bit more endeavor, a little bit more fight, a little bit more enthusiasm in the second half. In the first half, we were on the back foot, we were second-best in nearly every aspect of the game. We showed a little bit more [energy] in the second half."
On how the team can generate offensive opportunities...
"We have created opportunities this season. Tonight we haven't. Even the last couple of games at home we've created a number of opportunities. I think we only had five shots on goal this evening. I don't think we had enough energy in the first half. Our energy levels were poor, we didn't get enough men forward, we didn't get forward with any conviction. Can't remember having any sustained pressure other than maybe for ten to 15 minutes in the second half. And obviously at 2-nil, you need a break. Maybe we didn't do enough to get a break."
On the weather affecting play...
"I think the fact that both teams who were attacking the [south] end dominated the play. The wind was pretty bad but that's not an excuse. I'm not going to use that. We were disappointed tonight and obviously gives me a lot of food for thought about moving forward."
DEFENDER BRENT KALLMAN
On the lack of offense chances...
"In the first half they defended very, very deep and we didn't do a good job of breaking it down. We were playing the ball in front of them until we turned it over then defend the counter. We didn't do a good job. When you have possession you want them to end in a shot or at least a ball out of bounds for a goal kick. And we continually turned it over in front of them and then we have to go and defend our own goal. Not enough ideas, not enough hard-running in behind. We just weren't sharp enough especially in that first half. Second half was better."
On how to generate more offensive chances...
"Hard to say. It's a lot of things. Timing, accuracy of passes, guys making sure they're making the right movements, we were sloppy tonight. We had a lot of giveaways, a lot of poor passes. Not just the guys going forward, the whole entire team. We have to get sharper, we can't be giving away silly possessions over and over again. We have to make sure we're doing better with the ball."
On the Fire's first goal...
"We set up to try to make sure that can't happen. There are a few things we can do to prevent that. Number one, when the ball comes out to the top of the box, the nearest guy if it's looking like it could lead to a counter check just take the foul. Take the professional foul, and the yellow card. We missed that opportunity and then they did a better job of breaking then we did of recovering. It's always a little bit of a threat when you have a corner kick or something deep that you're exposed for the counter but that's something everybody should be aware of and everyone is ready to do their job whether it's recovering or you're the guy that's closest and you're the one taking the foul. We fell asleep and [that's when] good teams punish you."
On facing former teammate Francisco Calvo...
"We treat it like a normal game. I hope he does well. We move forward and he will move forward himself."
