MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On balancing the disappointing result with getting a home playoff game …
“Well, I’m still thinking more about the game today. I was a bit disappointed. I don’t think we did ourselves justice enough today considering what was at stake for us. But, I have to look at the body of work that we’ve done over a 10-month period. As I said before, I don’t think or I didn’t read anybody saying that we would make the playoffs. For us to be where we are, to get a home field game in the playoffs, we’ll take a lot of satisfaction from that. At this moment, my overriding feeling is more of disappointment about today.”
On Ethan Finlay’s shot that was inches from going in the net …
“We’ve huffed and puffed a lot tonight. I don’t think we had enough quality in their half of the field because we had enough of the ball in the middle third of the field but we just didn’t have enough quality in the final third. I don’t think we created enough for the amount of the ball that we had.”
On CenturyLink Field being a tough place to play …
“They were [a good team] but I think it comes more down to our quality. Ethan’s had a couple good chances. Mason’s had a couple good opportunities elsewhere. When I look at the big picture of what was at stake for us today, I was a little bit disappointed in one or two.”
On if the change of formation did what he wanted it too …
“I thought for long periods of the game, we looked comfortable. They had plenty of possession but I can’t remember Vito [Mannone] having to come up with anything big to do today. Poor marking from the corner, the second phase. Ethan’s had a chance and then we had a couple opportunities from headers. Overall, little bit disappointed with what was at stake today.”
On Osvaldo Alonso putting his body on the line …
“As you expect. He got a fantastic reception as he should for what he’s done since he’s been here. Now we move on. We’ve got a couple of weeks to get ourselves together, get our thoughts together, and then go and prepare for a really difficult game against the Galaxy.”
On how tough of an opponent the Galaxy will be …
“Their away for in the year hasn’t been great. We played them earlier in the season at home and I thought that we were the better team and as I said before, I fancy us against anybody at Allianz Field. It’s a big opportunity for us and we have to go and try to take it.”
On how the next two weeks will play out …
“We’ve got plenty of guys who will be away with international duties and we have one or two banged up. This week will be a bit of rest and recuperation to give ourselves a good full week moving into the Galaxy game.”
On if he’s gotten an update about Romain Metanire yet …
“That’s still to be determined.”
On if he will send Christian Ramirez a thank you for scoring two goals against the LA Galaxy …
“I will. He’s always looked after us, Chris. I’ll send him a nice bottle of wine in the post.”
On his overall thoughts of the game …
“I thought they probably would’ve felt hard-done-to if they hadn’t won the game. They had a lot of possession and I don’t think that we did enough with our possession certainly in their final third – not enough quality. We didn’t create as much as I’d like. You look at the second sort of, 35 minutes of the game. The second half has been virtually played in their half of the field. When you have that much possession and that many bodies forward, for us to not really create an awful lot was disappointing.”
On playing more open and not coming out and bunkering in …
“We had a good shape, there was no need for it [bunkering in]. I thought we were going to score all day. I thought we were going to catch them on the break but it wasn’t to be but I think that was more down to us at times because of our quality. They’re a good side. They’re going to be difficult to beat here as they always are. Before the season started, would we have settled for where we are and what we’ve got coming up next week? You bet.”
On subbing Darwin Quintero and Ethan Finlay out …
“I was just trying to get some fresh legs and fresh bodies on and see if we could have unsettled them with a different look but it wasn’t to be.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER OSVALDO ALONSO
On balancing the emotions of a tough loss but still going home for a playoff game at Allianz Field …
“We lost. We have to focus now on LA [Galaxy]. We have to now think about LA. I think we played a pretty good game today. We gave everything we had but unfortunately, we lost. Now we have to move forward. Now it’s LA and we have to go home and then win away.”
On if it felt weird to play in Seattle but in black and blue …
“It’s a little weird, you know. I spent 10 years in Seattle and coming here and playing today. It was great to come back home and see friends and family but now focusing on the next game. We have to keep going. We have one more game at home and we have to give everything that we have to keep going.”
On Ethan Finlay’s shot that hit the post …
“I think it’s part of the game. They scored the first goal and then we got a chance but we missed. Like I said before, it is what it is. We have to look forward and now it’s LA and we move forward.”
On if he felt like the team had enough quality in attack today …
“I think we fought. We gave everything we had to win the game but sometimes you’re unlucky to not score. Like I said, we have to keep going. We have to put today aside and look forward now.”
On putting his body on the line …
“I always give my best for the team to win the game. Doesn’t matter if it’s Seattle or anything else. I have to always give my best.”
On facing the LA Galaxy in the First Round of the playoffs …
“It’s very tough. Every playoff game is tough. We can have a bunch. We play at home. We played them in the season and tied zero-zero. Now it’s one game. It’s like a final, every game now is like a final. We have to play at a high level like we did today and we have to go home and win the game.”
On having an extended layoff before the playoffs this year …
“It’s good for people who got injured. They can rest now and with international break, everyone can be fit. I think it’s great for the playoffs.”
On having a lot of guys who will travel for international break …
“We have a lot of players that have to go overseas so it’s good for them to get a rest and be ready for the playoffs.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On today’s game …
“We are disappointed. We created a handful of chances and had some good opportunities to get back in the game and we were just not able to do so. So, disappointing to not at least get a point and take second. We have a home playoff game and it is single elimination from here. We have proven that we can win on the road. We would like to be in the second spot but we are in the fourth spot, and we know LA Galaxy is our next opponent and we have two weeks to prepare.”
On if the players on the field were aware of other scores …
“No, the focus was on the game and staying in the moment. There was no communication going back and forth.”
On if the team created enough chances in the match …
“I think we had our moments. I think we knew what we were going to be up against. This is a tough place to play. I think we had our chances. I think we defended well for the most part and made some adjustments there in the second half obviously. Their goal comes off a recycled ball. It goes on a corner and gets out the back side and they put it back in. Besides that, I can’t think of many that where I felt like we were under pressure where Vito had to make a big save or they had a big miss. We were right in it. The chances were very equal. In fact, I think we out dulled them. There is a lot of stats I think that would say we had a very nice performance today. A lot of positives despite a loss.”
