MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On what needs to be better in the final third…
“Need more quality with the final touch. We created, what, four or five glorious opportunities, they hit the post. Probably two or three really good half chances, a couple other occasions where I don’t think the final ball was good enough, but alls we were missing was the final touch. I would have been more worried if we were not creating opportunities. We created an awful lot in the last game and I think at the weekend, if we create the same amount of chances, we put ourselves in a great spot to win the game.”
On getting a result over a struggling Cincinnati team…
“It’s always the case but football is not like, it’s never been like that. We have to play well and if they come in and defend well like they’ve done at times, it’s going to make it difficult for us. Trust me, I’ve got every respect for Jaap Stam and I know his guys are trying really, really hard. This is going to be a difficult game for us, there’s nothing easy in football. You have to go and earn it and work hard for it and that’s what we’re going to have to do. If we can put a similar performance in that we did the other night, then I think it will stand us in good sted.”
On how the team has embraced the “next man up” mentality…
“The offseason acquisitions of three or four sort of people who are used to playing in the MLS were huge. We’ve had a few more numbers back today in training which is nice. Hopefully, if we can get nearly everybody fit and healthy for this next month because, we’ve got seven games in October, it’s going to be tough and everybody is going to be needed. As you said, it’s next man up, it’s a great opportunity for people to show what they can do.”
MINNESOTA UNITED DEFENDER MICHAEL BOXALL
On getting a full week of rest, recovery and preparation…
“Obviously it’s been great. The last three or four months everything has kind of been on the go. No travel this week as well, so it’s been nice. Good to get a few bodies back and feeling fresh for Saturday.”
On his leadership role as the defense has rotated this season…
“Everyone who’s stepped in has been good enough to do the job and really excelled when they’ve been asked to step in. I think it helps when we’ve got a good group that works hard at training and knows what we have to do, really focuses on our job so when it comes to the matches, it’s pretty easy.”
On facing a struggling Cincinnati team…
“I think we’ve kind of underperformed in recent weeks and not gotten out of games what we expect of ourselves. We can’t take anyone lightly at all and especially at home, we need to take as many points as possible. With this week, we need to get as much work as we can in our legs, feeling fresh into Saturday and really get after Cincinnati because it’s a big three points with the West so tight.”
On creating a positive culture during a challenging 2020…
“I’m definitely not leading it. I’m just a small part of it. I think it helps the whole group, top to bottom, is really awesome. It’s one of the better locker rooms I’ve for sure been in. Even with all the tough times, with Orlando and the time we spent down there, it was a pleasure to be there with this group of guys.”
MINNESOTA UNITED GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR
On what he has learned since becoming the starting goalkeeper…
“Just getting more familiar with our style of play. Of course when I was on loan [with San Antonio], it was a different style of play and adjusting to the guys, the level of the league and things like that.”
On developing communication with a rotating defense…
“We all have a good relationship. Whoever is in there, we all want each other to do well so it’s been easy knowing that the next guy up, whoever gets called, is going to be ready for that game. It’s the same communication with whoever is in there.”
On best moment for him personally in his first several starts…
“Two clean sheets I think is the epitome of everything you want. Of course the Houston penalty save was big but to not come away with a clean sheet or three points there was a little bit disappointing.”
On what’s made him successful in penalty kick saves…
“It’s a mental battle, trying to win the mental battle with the guys that’s going to take it. Try to delay, let the pressure build up in scenarios and just committing to a decision and going for it and kind of forcing the attacker to beat me instead of diving early and allowing him to put it wherever he wants.”
On his thoughts on FC Cincinnati…
“It’s a big game at home. Of course we haven’t done as well as we would have liked in the past few games but we’re going into the game where three points is everything that we want and find a way to get it, especially at home.”
