MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On whether he got what he was hoping for from the game …
“Yeah, maybe a bit more. I thought it was a really good game for a friendly game. Most Mexican teams take them seriously when they come, put probably the strongest lineup that they could with the players that were away on international duty. I was really pleased with a lot of stuff I saw.”
On starting Angelo Rodriguez over Abu Danladi …
“He needs games. Hasn't been playing much lately, so he needs to get some minutes under his belt. We're gonna need the pair of them in this run. All the players who've played tonight, as I've said to them before the game, the important thing is to make sure they make sure they get something out of it and I thought we did. I was really pleased with the level of commitment from the guys, thought we scored a couple of really good goals. And it looks like everybody's come through unscathed, which is always important at this stage. We know we've got a huge couple of weeks coming up, four games in fourteen days after when we get to Wednesday, that are probably gonna shape the rest of the season.”
On if anyone made a case for more minutes …
“I thought it was more of a collective than an individual. I thought there was a lot of good performances. Nobody was outstanding, but everyone did the job that I was asking of them. Thought the two centerbacks did well against good movement. Great goal from Wilf[ried Moibmé-Tahrat], first one. And then Abu [Danladi]'s took it well. Sometimes when you have that much time you overthink it, which he didn't. Took his time and put it in the bottom corner. As I say, it's been a good evening's work. Great turnout. I'd like to thank the fans for them turning out tonight. That's what I said to the players before, whatever the crowd was, they've paid to come and watch a game of football so let's make sure we put something on for them and I thought we did.”
On Thomás Chacón’s first start …
“He'll be better for that. It's been a while since he played a full 90, so he'll be disappointed with the penalty but we saw some nice little touches, some nice combination play, getting in nice spots and he'll get better.”
On whether Thomas Chacón stepped in to say he was taking the penalty …
“I think so, and Ethan [Finlay] telling him, go ahead, get a start, your first goal. But hey, if he scored, great, but if he doesn't, it's not the end of the world.”
On Thomas Chacón taking free kicks and corner kicks …
“That's something we worked on this week and you know, he's taken them before. I thought some of his delivery was excellent as well. I'm pleased with his performance this evening, he'll get better from 90 and build on that performance.”
On Thomas Chacón coping with the physicality of MLS …
“He'll have to and trust me, playing down in Uruguay, he's gonna have no trouble coping with the physicality, because I've been down there and watched the games. They're tough and they're big and strong. They don't hold back in Uruguay so he'll be fine.”
On Thomas Chacón getting opportunities off the high press …
“He works hard, that's one thing we liked about him. As I said to you, he's not played a full 90 minutes for I don't know how long. And he's getting used to his surroundings, getting used to his teammates, starting to feel part of the group, which is always difficult when you move to a new country, a new club.”
On Wilfried Moimbé-Tahrat's goal celebration …
“He'll have to work on that. Might be the worst one I've ever seen. For the quality of the goal, to come up with that afterwards? Nah. He's gonna have to do some work on that.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On if there’s anything he wants to say to the 19,000 fans who showed up tonight for a midseason friendly …
“It’s great. Took on a team from way down south and obviously a long ways away, and they had some supporters here obviously, but I thought it was a great crowd here tonight. We’ve seen more MLS teams play MX teams, and I think a lot of people would say that’s our direct competition when we talk about viewership in this country, so it was good for them to come up here and face a good quality side. They’re only a couple matches into their season, but a very good side. The great attendance says a lot about the fans we have here in Minnesota, but also surrounding states that draw in to see a game like this. It was great.”
On how ‘friendly’ this friendly match really was …
“I’ll tell you this, anytime that you play against a Mexican club it could get a little bit chippy. I think they took the game pretty serious, as did we, so yeah it starts as a friendly but then you get to the 60th minute and you want to win the game and I think that mentality starts. I think the ref for the most part managed the game, he probably had about two wrong calls, but I think it ends up all square and probably a fair result.”
On what happened with his nose …
“I just got hit, like I said it gets a little bit chippy later in the game. It was just an extended arm, and I had a little bit of a cut already there, and it just reopened. I actually didn’t even really know until about 10 minutes after it happened when the guys were telling me there was blood. That’s what happens.”
On what he thought of his first good look at Thomás Chacón …
“I thought he was good, I thought he was very active and finding himself in some pretty good pockets. We probably play enough tonight as I thought we could have, playing out of some pressure. It was a new lineup, a lot of those guys haven’t played together, so it was just a little bit of guys trying to get comfortable with each other. For an 18 year old to get his first 90 minutes under his belt, I thought it was a nice performance and something to build off of.”
On if what was said between Thomás Chacón and him before the penalty kick was about who was going to take it …
“Well I was going to take it, and then he wanted to take it, so I just said are you sure? You know, it’s a great opportunity for him to step up and make his mark, and I felt very confident in him doing that and I think we’d do it again. I think he’s a player who has a lot of confidence in himself, and we have confidence in him as well. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I’m sure he’ll be ready to step up. Not many 18 year olds want that moment, and for him to say he wants it rather it’s a friendly or not says a lot, and I think it was an opportunity for me to say, okay let’s see what you got. Right after it got saved, I went over and stood next to him and just said, next one, and then we saw his reaction over the next twelve minutes which was fantastic. He stayed in the game, continued to try to fight, and tried to find another one for us. That’s the mentality you want, whichever way it goes.”
On if that’s what he likes to see in a 19-year-old …
“Yeah absolutely. Like I said, there’s already probably enough pressure on him being a young DP, coming here but he’s kind of willing to take that on. He saw that in that moment and that’ll just be the first of many that he’ll be willing to accept that challenge and like I said, it didn’t go his way tonight. I’m sure he wanted to bang it away and score in front of the fans but we have full confidence in him. We’ll move forward and he’s gonna be a good player for us.”
On Thomás Chacón creating the triangle …
“Yeah absolutely, and that’s the action I was talking about. Still staying in the game and being confident, hunting the ball down. But defensively for the most part, those front two did pretty good. Again, two guys who haven’t played together too much, Thomas hadn’t played together, he’s maybe been in that spot with us a handful of times. Darwin [Quintero’s] getting most of those reps in there. So, I thought it was good. We defended pretty well at times tonight. If we could play forward a little bit more and combine, when we did the we played really well.
On if he’s showing Thomás Chacón around at all…
“I haven’t, I think Miguel [Ibarra] would be the best chauffeur so you should ask him. Those two are connected at the hip. I don’t think you’ll see a picture in the next two months were those guys aren’t right next to each other. Miguel [Ibarra] is pretty much a local at this point, how long he’s been here, he knows all the spots. He’s a great guide and a great mentor to him. He fits in with all the Spanish speaking guys pretty good and they’ve kind of taken him under their wing.”
On Wilfried [Moimbe-Tahrat’s] goal celebration…
“I didn’t really pay too much attention to the celebration I was actually talking but it always kind of one of those funny things. I feel like when a defender scores he sprints a little bit extra always. Offensive guys grow the shortest splice, usually to the corners. Defenders are usually the ones running to the end of the field. What a great free kick, he even disguised it enough. I thought he was crossing the ball and I was kind of like what in the hell is he doing? Then I was like that was pretty amazing. But yeah, great for him he came out playing a great 90-minuets a couple days ago in LA so another good 60 minutes under his belt. We got great depth at various positions right now and that’s what playoff games need.”
MINNESOTA UNITED GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR
On how he felt he played today …
“I think I did all right. Of course, you could see two goals but I think they were two good goals. I think the ones that I could have saved I dealt with well and I think playing out the back I did well in that aspect of the game.”
On if he got a clean look at the second goal …
“The second one was a little tough. I think it went through Wyatt [Omsberg’s] legs and he tried to sell out and try and get a block on it. I saw it but it’s always tough from that distance.”
On how his time at Forward Madison helped him …
“I think, of course you can train every day but I think getting a feel for the game and getting minutes in meaningful games is important as well.”
On playing with the back line …
“I think in training we have a good understanding of each other. Of course, you know everyone’s strengths and I think we were able to communicate well on the field for not having that many minutes together.”
On if he feels confident to step in if needed in the future …
“For sure, I think that’s kind of, you don’t hope for it but as a second keeper, that’s your goal to always stay ready. It could be a red card, it could be an injury, it could be anything. As long as you’re in the [matchday] 18 you’re always prepared.”
On when was the last time he was a second keeper …
“My first two years at Maryland.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER THOMAS CHACON
On his Allianz Field debut …
[SPA] “Muy feliz, la verdad es que me fascino el estadio y la gente. Creo que cansado hace mucho de no jugar los noventa y por allí también la ansiedad un poquito.”
[ENG] “Very happy. Honestly, I’m enchanted by the stadium and the fans. I’m a little tired because it’s been a long time since I’ve played a full 90 and some anxiety too.”
On the conversation with Ethan Finlay on who would take the penalty …
[SPA] “No lo entendí mucho pero era entre él y yo quien podía patear y le dije si me lo dejara y me lo dejo.”
[ENG] “I couldn’t understand him too much but it was between him and I as to who would take the kick, but I asked him if I could take it and he let me.”
On comparing tonight’s match to games in Uruguay in terms of being physical …
[SPA] “Si a capaz que lo físico y los choques es parecido a Uruguay pero creo que hay mucha más dinámica que es peor a los choques y hay que acostumbrarse a jugar con mucho ritmo.”
[ENG] “Yes, the physicality and hits are similar to Uruguay but there’s much more dynamic here which is much harder than the hits but it’s something to get used to, playing with more rhythm.”
On wanting to take the penalty kick …
[SPA] “Porque me sentía confianza, me sentía bien creo que jugar los noventa minutos aquí de local pensé que iba hacer un juego muy redondo pero igual estoy feliz de estar aquí y poder hacerlo de buena manera.”
[ENG] “I felt really confident, I felt good but playing the full 90 minutes here at home, I thought it would be a great way to round out the game but I’m still happy with how the game went and how I played.”
On shooting the penalty to the desired spot …
[SPA] “Si siempre pateo allí donde me siento seguro. Creo que iba fuerte pero el portero tuvo una buena parada.”
[ENG] “Yes, that’s where I always place the ball, it’s where I feel most confident. I thought it was a strong kick but the keeper had a good save.”
On contributing to the second goal after having missed his penalty …
[SPA] “Si creo que ahorrar un penal y no poder hacer el gol creo que afecta mucho a un jugador en confianza pero intente seguir como si no hubiese pasado para poder seguir ayudando el equipo y poder asistir el segundo gol.”
[ENG] “Yes, after having been given a penalty and then missing it, it doesn’t affect a player a bit right away but I tried to keep going as if it didn’t happen so I could keep helping the team and I was able to assist in the second goal.”
On enjoying the Minnesota weather …
[SPA] “Creo que hace frio en Uruguay pero como me habían dicho aquí, no llego en Uruguay y no creo que nunca llegue y menos nevar.”
[ENG] “It does get cold in Uruguay, but based on what I’ve heard, nothing like how it gets here and we don’t get snow.”
On how he feels after one month of training with the team ...
[SPA] “Muy bien, la verdad es que me recibieron de muy buena manera. Muy buena gente son todos. Creo que me sentí parte desde que llegue aquí y estoy muy feliz.”
[ENG] “Very good. I think I’ve been well welcomed. Everyone has been great. I’ve felt a part of the team since I got and I’m happy.”
On understanding his teammate’s style of play …
[SPA] “Bien, creo que en los entrenamientos te puedes entender un poco pero no es nada que ver a que se puede presentar en el partido y creo que juego tras juego los puedo entender más y vamos a llegar a conocernos muy bien.”
[ENG] “Good, I think in training you can understand one another a little bit but it’s nothing to what’s needed in a game and I think with each game, we’ll go on understanding each other more and we’ll get to know one another well.”
