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MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On how proud he was of the result and performance in Kansas City …
“After the first 10 minutes, I thought we were outstanding for the rest of the game. I took as much pleasure in the fact that in the second half, we came under pressure, I can’t really remember them creating an opening. A clear opening. So that was good. Very resolute. Great attitude to defend the goal, not to give anything away. But, as I said to the guys, we could have been one, two down within five or six minutes. Then, that changes the whole complexion of the game. There’s things from the game that we can work on and think about, but we’re all really delighted with the group and pleased that some of our approach play got the finishing touch for what was some great football at times.”
On his front four looking as dynamic as ever before and why they are clicking at this precise moment …
“Well, we’ve got good players. That always helps. They’re on a similar wavelength. The relationship of the ball movement and the combination play has been outstanding. And it’ll only get better. I just speak carefully, don’t overelaborate it at times, and make them realize that we still have to try and score goals and go forward. But, no, it’s really, really exciting watching them play. If we can continue to get them the ball early enough, I think they’re going to create chances against anybody.”
On Seattle’s front four being identified as one of the most dangerous in MLS and how you contain the likes of Lodeiro, Ruidiaz and Morris …
“It’s difficult. And, everybody knows that. Concentration is huge. Especially preventative marking when you’re attacking. We know that in a split second [Nicolas] Lodeiro can turn and pick a pass. We’ve just got to be really, really concentrated for the full 90 minutes because the minute you drop your guard for a second, they normally punish you. So we know it’s going to be tough. It’s traditionally one of the hardest places to go and get a result. And I don’t expect it to be anything different with what’s at stake, a chance of going to the MLS Cup. So, yep, it’s going to be tough, but we’ve proved the last few weeks that we’re playing well. And if we don’t beat ourselves early on, I think we give ourselves a chance.”
On how big of a night this is for Osvaldo Alonso and what he expects from him …
“You don’t give a club what he gave for 10 years and it not be special. He’s arguably the biggest player in that club’s history. You know, for 10 years on the trot, they made the playoffs and he was in the fulcrum of all of that. So we know it will be a big night for him, but, knowing Ozzie [Alonso] the way we do and how competitive he is, there will be no sentiment. Trust me. He’ll be wanting to put one over his former teammates. We expect another big performance from him. But, obviously, it’s going to be a big night for him.”
On how much it would mean to himself and the group to get to MLS Cup …
“I think it shows how far we’ve come in a short period of time. Because at the end of the day, we’re four years old. It’s a new club, really. So, for us to get to an MLS Cup final, you know, we made the [U.S.] Open Cup final last year, it would be another step in the right direction. And, that’s all we can look at it. It’s a big, big night, but it’s another game. We’ll go and try and win it, and if we do, then we can enjoy what will come after that but let’s go and try and take care of business on Monday first.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER OSVALDO ALONSO
On beating the number one seed in the Western Conference on the road to advance…
[SPA] “Contento por la victoria. Sabíamos que iba ser un partido complicado, difícil. Creo que nunca el equipo había ganado en Kansas City y ganar de esta forma fue increíble. Hay que seguir adelante, tenemos un partido importante el lunes y contento por la victoria que tuvimos ahí en Kansas.”
[ENG] “Pleased with the victory. We knew it was going to be a tough, difficult game. I think the team had never won a game in Kansas City before and we did it in an incredible way. We have to keep moving forward, we have an important game on Monday but I’m pleased with our win we had in Kansas.”
On playing in 12 straight postseasons and how the mentality changes from the regular season…
[SPA] “Si la mentalidad cambia un poco. Sabemos que los partidos playoffs es de vida o muerte. Si pierdes, vas para la casa y ahí no se puede perder, quedan siempre los extras. En temporada regular, tienes partidos que puedes estar mal, pierdes, pero tienes más partidos que te pueden dar resultados, que te pueden seguir avanzando. Aquí en la postemporada, pierdes el partido y a casa. Entonces la mentalidad cambia un poquito, sabemos que el equipo está mejorando cada día. Muy contento por este paso que dimos, que llegar a la final de la conferencia.”
[ENG] “Yeah, the mentality does shift a little bit. We know that playoff games are life or death. If you lose, you go home and we can’t lose here, there’s always extra time to think about. In the regular season, you have games where you can play poorly and lose but there are always more games where you can find results to keep advancing. Here in the postseason, if you lose a game, you go home. So the mentality is different, we know this team is getting better every day. I’m pleased with what we gave in the last match, to get to the conference final.”
On returning to Seattle, but to compete for an MLS Cup berth…
[SPA] “Nos tocó Seattle pero nos ha podido tocar cualquiera. Contento de estar en la final de la conferencia. Va ser un partido complicado, pero nosotros tenemos enfocarnos en nosotros, nuestro trabajo e ir para allá con la garra y alegría que tenemos que dar lo mejor para ganar el partido.”
[ENG] “We got Seattle but it could have been another team. Pleased to be in conference final. It will be a tough match, but we focus on our game, our job and go there with joy and guts to give our best to win the game.”
On what makes Seattle Sounders so good year after year…
[SPA] “Lo han demostrado por lo años, es un gran equipo. Pero como te dije anteriormente, tenemos afrente a Seattle, pensar en nosotros que somos un gran equipo y podemos ir allá con todo, a buscar resultado y que nos pase a la final de la MLS.”
[ENG] “They’ve been showing it for years, they’re a great team. But like I said, we got Seattle but we have to think about us and we’re a great team too and we can go there with all, and find the result to get to MLS Cup.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER EMANUEL REYNOSO
On being the first player in MLS history with three assists in two consecutive playoff games …
[SPA] “Primero que nada, contento con el equipo que viene haciendo las cosas bien. Para mi, para los mediocampistas se nos hace fácil cuando tenemos delanteros que le da un buen pase o tratar de asistirlo bien. Creo que se nos hace fácil a nosotros por que ellos convierten y están muy finos arriba. Así que sigan igual y nosotros, de los que estamos atrás, tratar de asistirlos y poder ayudar para que puedan hacer goles.”
[ENG] “First, pleased for the team, we’re doing things really well. For me, as a midfielder, it makes my job easy when we have forwards and we can give a good pass and we can give them good assists. It makes it easier for us because they convert and play well up top. So we need to keep things the same and for those behind them, try to keep assisting and helping them score the goals.”
On playing with players like Kevin Molino and Robin Lod…
[SPA] “Se hace todo más fácil. Se ve que hemos mejorado mucho el teme defensivo, los mediocampistas, creo que mejoramos muchísimo. Y adelante, como te dije recién, estamos muy finos, llegamos y convertimos entonces creo que es muy importante eso para nosotros. Así que feliz, contento de poder jugar con ellos ahí arriba y tratar de asistirlo y ayudarlo así que se sigan metiendo goles.”
[ENG] “Everything else is easier. We’ve gotten better defensively in the midfield. And up top, we’re playing really well, we’re converting and that’s really important for us. So happy and pleased to play with them up top and try to assist them and help them to keep scoring goals.”
On the prospect of playing the reigning MLS Champions…
[SPA] “Va ser un partido muy lindo. La verdad que venimos haciendo las cosas bien. Ellos tienen un plantel que es muy lindo, juegan muy bien y juegan de local. Entonces nosotros tenemos que estar tranquilos, humildes y pasito tras pasito yendo tranquilo, pero sabiendo que enfrentamos un gran rival y sabiendo de que nosotros también venimos haciendo las cosas bien. Entonces estas confiados y pensar en el partido que va ser muy importante para nosotros.”
[ENG] “It’s going to be a good game. Honestly, we’re doing things well ourselves. They have a good roster, they play well and they’re at home. So we have to stay calm, humble and step by step staying calm, knowing we’re facing a tough rival and but that we’re also in good form. So we have to stay confident and think about this game that’s really important for us.”
On playing in big games and under pressure…
[SPA] “Estar tranquilo, obviamente pensando en lo que significa este partido que para nosotros, para el club va ser muy importante. Estar tranquilo, descansar que tenemos poco días para descansar, para prepara para el partido. Como te dije recién, seguir haciendo las cosas bien todo el grupo, todo el plantel, tanto los que están jugando como también los que les toca estar en banco que siempre están atento, siempre están preparados para cuando les toque jugar. A prepararnos, estar tranquilos, ha descansar y ojala que sea un gran partido el lunes y poder darles una alegría grande a los fanáticos y a nosotros mismos. A meterle con todo.”
[ENG] “Stay calm and obviously think about the significance of this game for us, for the club, it’s important. Stay calm, we have a few days to rest, to prepare. Like I told you, keep playing well with the whole group. The whole roster, those who are playing and those on the bench who are always attentive, prepared for when they’re called upon. To prepare, stay calm, rest and hopefully we can give a good performance on Monday and give the fans and us a big victory. To go and give it all.”
