Head Coach Adrian Heath
On the importance of having a break in the regular season this week…
“I think for everybody I've noticed that I think everybody's come back a little bit fresher and a little bit livelier. We had nine games in 31 days; not just us - most teams in the league. It's certainly nice for them to probably get away from me for a few days and me, and vis versa. We know that the attitude of the players has been great. Everybody looks nice and fresh. So hopefully, they'll stand us in good stead at the weekend.”
On if he expects to have a near full group of players available for this weekend, beyond players at Gold Cup…
“Dayne [St. Clair] and Joseph [Rosales] will not be back. But the rest we're expecting back and hopefully they come back fit and healthy.”
On the importance of the second half of the season now arriving with more home matches…
“We have to do better than we've done in the first half of the season. I think the most important thing for us is to get back making Allianz [Field] the fortress that it's been since the stadium has been open. I think we've left maybe six points out there with the opportunities that we created in the home games. When I consider the Vancouver [Whitecaps] game in the 98th minute and Orlando [City SC] in the 94th minute, you know, you can go on and on. But certainly, the second half of the season, our home form has to be better. And if we can marry with that with what we've done on the road, then we'll put ourselves in a good spot.”
On what he expects to see from Real Salt Lake on Saturday…
“The altitude in Salt Lake [City], it's never easy there. But, we have we have played well there over the over the years. I think we match up pretty well with them, as the home game proved. But you know, knowing Pablo [Mastroeni], they'll be well revved up. They've had a good couple of results on the road. And, they’ve got a game tomorrow night. So obviously, that's not ideal for them. But, let's see if we can take advantage of that and go there nice and fresh and put a big performance on.”
On what to expect from midfielder Emanuel Reynoso this weekend…
“He's available. He's six weeks in now. A lot's been said that he didn't turn up on time, but what I can say is his attitude since he has been back has been absolutely first class, intensity in every session he's done. It looks in great neck physically. His body's in really good condition and obviously he's still not got that much sharpness, that little extra bit that games give you. But, he's certainly put himself in a position where we could start him if we want to this weekend.”
On MNUFC center back pairings facing RSL…
“The one thing about that group, they've got pace, you know, [Danny] Musovski and then the other kid [Andres] Gomez, the winger they bought in from Colombia. I'm a huge fan of [Damir] Kreilach, doesn't matter where he plays he seems to have an influence on the game. We know in this league on the road, if you don't play well, invariably, you don't win games. We've done well on the road – we've won four games so far this season. We're going to need another big performance to win at the weekend. If we do, we'll give ourselves a chance.”
Midfielder Emanuel Reynoso
On what the team needs to do in the second half of the season…
[SPA]: “La verdad que tenemos que sumar puntos, esa es la realidad. Si bien faltan muchos partidos, pero sabemos que tenemos que arrancar desde ahora sumando puntos. La liga es muy difícil, muy competitiva. Entonces tenemos que seguir trabajando en lo que venimos haciendo, en lo que pide el técnico y bueno ojalá que podamos tener un gran partido el fin de semana para empezar a sumar puntos.”
[ENG]: “Honestly, we have to earn points, that is the reality. Although there are still many games to go, we know that we have to start earning points from this moment. The league is very difficult and very competitive, so we have to keep working on what we've been doing, on what the coach is asking for and hopefully we can have a great game this weekend to start earning points."
On his personal goals and expectations for the rest of the season…
[SPA]: “Bueno, primero simplemente agradecer a mis compañeros, al cuerpo técnico del club, a todos los fans que siempre me apoyaron para poder volver más rápido. Estoy muy contento de poder sumar minutos. Me tocó jugar de local con nuestra gente y sentí el apoyo incondicional de la gente y eso para mí me pone muy feliz. Así que me sigo preparando para poder seguir esta temporada que viene. Va a ser muy linda para todos y tenemos que seguir por este camino.”
[ENG]: “Well, first I just want to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, and all the fans who supported me so I could come back faster. I am very happy I was able to play some minutes. I had the chance to play at home in front of our fans and I felt the unconditional support from everyone and that made me very happy. So I keep working on myself to be able to continue the rest of this season. It will be very great for everyone and we have to continue on this path.”
On what the team needs to do to win against RSL this weekend…
[SPA]: “Bueno lo que pide el técnico. Estamos trabajando en eso. Nos enfocamos en cada movimiento y cada plan que tenga el técnico. Después sabemos que tenemos que jugar nosotros dentro de la cancha, poner nuestras ganas y nuestro juego. Así que va a ser un partido muy difícil. Nos tocó jugar acá de local, yo lo miré de afuera y la verdad que es muy difícil porque es un rival que corre mucho, que intenta jugar. Entonces vamos a entrar adentro de la cancha para hacer nuestro juego.”
[ENG]: “Whatever the coach asks from us, we are working on that. We’re focused on each movement and each plan that the coach has. Then we know that we have to play on the field, put our desire and our style of game. It's going to be a very difficult game. We already played them here at home. I was watching from the outside and it was very difficult because they are a rival that runs a lot and intends to play. So we are going to enter the pitch to play our game.”
On the importance of the team having a few days to rest…
[SPA]: “Muy bueno, muy bueno porque los chicos venían haciendo un esfuerzo muy grande. Había muchos partidos seguidos entonces creo que viene bien para que descansen un poco. A mí me tocó entrenar lo que me tocó para seguir preparándome, pero creo que esta semana nos va a venir bien para preparar el partido que tenemos que va a ser muy difícil y ojalá que salga de la mejor manera.”
[ENG]: “Very good, very good because the guys had been working hard. There were many games in a row, so I think it's good for them to rest a bit. I had to train during that time to continue preparing myself, but I think that this week will be good for us to prepare for the game that we have, which will be very difficult and hopefully it will play out in our favor."
On the importance of his integration into the team…
[SPA]: “Como lo dije, la verdad que muy feliz, agradecido a todos los profes. La verdad que los profes me han ayudado mucho tanto [Enrique “Kike” Martinez Ruiz] como Sean [Buckley]. Me ayudaron en este proceso para prepararme bien físicamente así que primero agradecerle a ellos también por el esfuerzo que hicieron y el gran trabajo que hicieron. Así que me sigo preparando todavía para seguir mejorando en lo físico, para seguir mejorando en lo individual y en lo grupal. Obviamente que los chicos me están ayudando mucho, así que nada muy feliz, muy contento de poder estar de vuelta.”
[ENG]: “As I mentioned earlier, I am very happy, grateful to all the coaches. They have helped me a lot, Kike [Enrique Martinez Ruiz] as well as Sean [Buckley]. They helped me in this process to prepare myself physically. So first, l would like to thank them for the effort they put in and the great job they did. I'm still continuing to improve myself physically, individually and in the group setting. Obviously the guys are helping me a lot, so very, very happy to be back."
Goalkeeper Clint Irwin
On having a week break during the June FIFA international window…
“Yeah, it's been good. Gives us a chance to recharge coming off crowded fixture lists where we're playing lots of games every couple of days. So, it gives us that chance to reset, comes at a good time midway through the season and gives us a chance to focus on what the second half of the season is going to look like. Really put our best foot forward and build some momentum and put some results together.”
On what specifically is a focus during an off week to gain momentum heading into a game week…
“Certainly we've got a few guys away with their [national] teams in Gold Cup and different friendlies and stuff like that. So, for the guys who are here, it's just getting a little bit sharper, making sure that we're improving in the right areas. We obviously are coming off a result where guys are hungry to get back out there and show we can put something better out there. It's been good for us. I think guys are ready to get back into the games and the regular-season rhythm. So, we're looking forward to this weekend.”
On how the team has worked to get a good start to the second half of the season…
“We've been working on our build up in our phases of play from back to front. I think we're doing a good job of getting in the right areas and creating chances. Even in the Montreal game, we had a fair amount of chances and we come off the result that looks probably worse than what the game was where they finished their chances and we create a lot, but just aren't able to find the goal. So I think we're just trying to sharpen up in all areas and be ready for Salt Lake.”
On what to expect against Real Salt Lake on the road…
“They're a team with a very good home record. You have to deal with the altitude. They play very well at home, they've got some players in [Damir] Kreilach and [Pablo] Ruiz who are dangerous, especially when they get in and around the box. And Pablo [Mastroeni] has always got his team ready to play. I was fortunate to play for him and know what he brings. Those guys will run through a wall for him. It's always a tough game when you go there, and we're going to have to be at our best to get the result.”
On not having to face Cristian Arango just yet this weekend…
“They [Real Salt Lake] certainly have some other dangerous players as well. Rubio Rubin and [Danny] Musovski have been scoring goals lately. We're just going to have to be aware of whoever's out there, whoever they put on. They've made some additions to their team as well. I think it'll be a good matchup for us and we just have to be aware of their dangerous players.”
