Head Coach Sean McAuley
On approaching this week with āDecision Dayā looming and international dutyā¦
āItās really difficult. Weāve got to approach it on an individual basis because everybody is on a different travel schedule. But in reflection, we also have to prepare our team. Weāve done a lot of work, even last week, in managing what we think will try and get us a result this weekend. But obviously weāll have to wait until everybody gets back in on Thursday and take it from there.ā
On seeing more life in the group and taking momentum after the victory into this matchā¦
āWe hope so and credit to the players because they got that result [5-1 victory] last weekend after such a bad result and then they bounced back. We need to keep that momentum going, and thatās the responsibility of us as staff: to keep that confidence and momentum going. The players deserve the credit for what they did last weekend. My message will be to them: if they make a mistake, itās mine as well because Iām deciding to do what we need to do. And if theyāre successful, they should get the credit.ā
On getting a result at a historically difficult placeā¦
āWe try to forget about all of that but it is there. What weāre going to try and do is approach it a little bit differently just so it doesnāt feel the same. Things that donāt change from our game against the [LA] Galaxy is itās 11 versus 11, thereās referees, thereās their [Sporting Kansas City] staff, thereās our staff, the supporters are in the stadium but theyāre just wearing a different color. Everything else is the same. Thatās the way weāre going to try and approach it.ā
On thwarting the offensive threat presented by Kansas Cityā¦
āWeāre going to reflect on that game through the videos because we had a lot of chances in that game. Like I said, momentum can happen over a season, it can happen over a short period of time and into the playoffs⦠who knows where it takes you. It can also happen in games. I feel as [though] if we had taken a chance, it might have been a completely different story. The front three of them [Sporting Kansas City] are obviously a threat, and they do like to control the middle of the field with possession of the ball, so we need to manage that as well. The big thing will be that weāve got to bring our own style and identity to the game to be able to put it onto the opposition.ā
On a tactical shift with Emanuel Reynoso to open up the wide playersā¦
āYeah, we need to continue that but that was a tactical thing on that one game. Weāll have something else that weāll want to do tactically [for this game] but on a similar message will be the rotation and the movement of the midfield players along with our front players is vital to getting the opposition into their own half and defending. What we donāt want to do is have two players in the same position, in the same space where one of their defenders can manage both of them. The tactical shift will involve a couple more players but the philosophy, the reason for having it is to create more space for everybody.ā
On having the power to determine the future in the hands of the teamā¦
āI think so, and on the other side of it, the three teams that are above ourselves and [Sporting] KC do have another result that could get them through. That could put a little bit of doubt in the mind or a little bit of āitāll be okay if we do this.ā So weāre going into the game with nothing else other than winning. Nothing else. I donāt need to keep an eye on the results, I donāt need to look at the results. Itās basically ourselves against KC. [Itās] one game, try and win it. Cup final week.ā
Midfielder Emanuel Reynoso
On how the team is feeling ahead of the match against Sporting Kansas Cityā¦
[SPA]: āMuy bien. La verdad que nos venimos preparando esta semana que no jugamos. Nos preparamos duro para afrontar este partido. Sabemos que va a ser muy difĆcil de visitante contra toda la gente. Sabemos que es un rival que juega muy bien. Nosotros confiamos en nuestro grupo y en nuestra confianza. Si damos lo mejor, podemos sacar un buen resultado.ā
[ENG]: āReally good. Truthfully weāve been preparing this past week that we didnāt play. Weāre working hard to approach this game. We know itās going to be difficult on the road against this team [Sporting Kansas City]. We know theyāre a team that plays really well. We trust in our group and we have confidence. If we give it our all, weāll be able to get a good result.ā
On developing a relationship with Teemu Pukkiā¦
[SPA]: āPoco a poco vamos agarrando confianza y vamos agarrando afinidad en el entrenamiento, en los partidos. Ćl es un jugador que es muy inteligente, tiene muy buen movimiento. Creo que no le han llegado bastante situaciones para que Ć©l pueda convertir pero las pocas que le han llegado, las ha hecho muy bien. Nos ha ayudado en el Ćŗltimo partido; ha hecho muchos goles. OjalĆ” que venga de la selección asĆ y que deje todo por nosotros tambiĆ©n porque sabemos que lo hace siempre. OjalĆ” que pueda convertir el sĆ”bado.ā
[ENG]: āLittle by little weāre getting confidence and weāre getting affinity in training and in the games. Heās a very intelligent player, has good movement. I think there havenāt been enough chances for him to convert, but the ones that have, heās done really well with. He helped us in the last game; he scored lots of goals. Letās hope that he comes back from the national team like this and leaves everything out for us as well because we know he always does. I hope heās able to score on Saturday.ā
On getting a result at a historically difficult place to playā¦
[SPA]: āSi, sabemos que es un partido muy difĆcil pero confiamos en nuestro grupo, confiamos en nuestros jugadores. Sabemos que tenemos un gran grupo que juega bien al fĆŗtbol, y ganamos el Ćŗltimo partido de nuestra casa con nuestra gente. La confianza de esa tambiĆ©n aumento al mĆ”ximo. Vamos a seguir a ganar que es lo que queremos para cumplir el objetivo que es tratar de poder llegar a los playoffs.ā
[ENG]: āYes, we know itās going to be really difficult but we trust in our group, we trust in our players. We know that we have a great team that plays good soccer, and we won the last game at our home with our fans. The confidence from that game as well raised our level [of confidence]. Weāre going to continue to win, which is what we want in order to complete our goal of trying to make the playoffs.ā
On the offensive dynamicā¦
[SPA]: āMuy bien, la verdad que siempre tratamos de ir para adelante, siempre tratamos de asistir al delantero. Tratamos de hacer goles todos, eso es lo que queremos. Es una competencia muy linda. TambiĆ©n estĆ” Fraga [Franco Fragapane], estĆ”n varios⦠Mender [Garcia]. Hay muchos jugadores afuera que estĆ”n peleando ahĆ para entrar. Siempre estĆ”n trabajando dĆa a dĆa para poder jugar, entonces eso para los que estĆ”n jugando es muy lindo porque saben que los de atrĆ”s estĆ”n peleando para jugar. Se formó una competencia muy linda y sana. Estamos muy bien para afrontar este partido, y ojalĆ” que podamos ser justo, merecedores y ganarnos.ā
[ENG]: āReally good, truthfully we always try to go forward, we always try to help the forward. We all try to score goals, itās what we all want. Itās a nice competition. Thereās also Fraga [Franco Fragapane], thereās multiple⦠Mender [Garcia]. There are many players outside who are fighting to get in. Theyāre always working everyday to be able to play, so that for those who are playing is nice because [the players] know that the others are fighting for their spot. Itās formed a healthy competition. Weāre ready to face this game, and letās hope we can be just, deserving and win.ā
Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair
On how the team is feeling ahead of the āDecision Dayā matchā¦
āFor us, we know itās a must-win game. Itās about starting that playoff mentality early that every game is a must-win moving forward. Itās about shifting that focus into giving ourselves an opportunity to play where everyone wants to play, for the MLS Cup.ā
On getting a result against a historically difficult opponentā¦
āItās about shifting the mentality because the last time that we went there [to Sporting Kansas City], in a must-win game for both teams, we came out victorious in the playoff game. We can do it again.ā
On the takeaways from the two previous matches against Kansas City this seasonā¦
āWe know their [Sporting Kansas City] style of play, but it also benefits us that they need to go in and get a result too. Their fans are going to be pushing them as well. If we can manage the early parts of the game, itās going to be important because theyāre going to come out strong. Itās about having a full performance. Last time we played them at home, it was a late goal that put things on. Itās about having a full 95 minute performance for us.ā