D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen
On the match as a whole:
“It was an extremely poor first half, obviously. We were just off the pace. They came in hungrier than we did; they came in with more energy, more commitment, and we're not a good enough team to not have a chip on our shoulder when we play. I think hopefully we learned that lesson tonight. I want to congratulate Nick Rimando. There's nobody better to have that record than him. He's a dear friend and I'm proud of him. He's been a huge part of the success that Salt Lake has seen over the years.”
On giving up two set piece goals:
“It's not like us, so hopefully it's a one-off. We've been pretty good with that stuff this year. Again, it's just important to learn from this and move on to try and fix it next week.”
On if the altitude affected his team at all:
“No.”
D.C. United MF Lewis Neal
On the experience of returning to face Real Salt Lake:
“Obviously, coming back to Salt Lake, I have some good memories from last season, but they were soon wiped away after tonight's performance. [Real] Salt Lake came out, as we knew they would, firing on all cylinders. [They scored] a flood of goals, we started so slow and so sluggish. We were climbing a heavy mountain then, and we didn't turn up tonight at all. None of our guys were up to standards that we have been most of the season. Overall, pretty good memories, but tonight, leaving with a bit of a sour taste in our mouths.”
On giving up a couple set piece goals:
“It's just as a team, we've got to make sure we're picking our guys up - our marks we've been given before the game, and make sure that we don't let them get to the ball. [They had] good deliveries in, and [Chris] Schuler's not an easy guy to defend, in all fairness, to anybody. He's got that physique, and the height, and the strength to get up and power the ball in the back of the net like he did. It's not always easy. We've got to do better on those situations.”
On if the altitude affected them at all:
“I think we were pretty good - we can't use that as an excuse. I think everyone felt pretty good in that respect.”
On what specifically they need to improve looking ahead:
“We've got a hell of schedule coming up. We've just got to make sure, as much as this hurts - the defeat here and the performance is not good - we've got to try and put this one behind us very, very quickly. Move on to the home game against Colorado, and we play Champions' League midweek - you know, two home games and we've got to make sure we're back firing on all cylinders and make sure we go out there and get the points because we've got a very, very tough road trip - KC, LA, NY so it's going to be difficult period for us.”
D.C. United FW Fabian Espindola
On coming back to his former MLS club:
“It feels great. It's good to be back here. I always liked the people here, so it's great to be back.”
On the match as a whole:
“I think we had no chance against them. [They are] great with the ball. They managed the entire game. They were the better team.”
On conceding a couple set piece goals:
“Set pieces are sometimes tough. You lose your mark, half a mistake, and the ball is in, so I don't think we did great, and then the one that [Chris] Schuler scored - he's huge.”
On what they need to improve moving forward:
“After this game, we've got to do everything better.”
Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar
On the team’s overall performance:
“I felt like things were going good right from the get-go. Right from the first whistle, we kept applied pressure and kept it on. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, but we didn’t want to let [D.C. United] gain any confidence. We wanted to keep our foot on the gas.”
On GK Nick Rimando’s performance tonight for his record-setting 113th clean sheet in MLS play:
“I don’t really know what to say. What an amazing career so far, but there’s so much left for him. It couldn’t happen to a better person. He’s a leader within our team and locker room. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. It’s an amazing individual award, but as I’m sure Nick [Rimando] said, there’s a lot of people that were involved in it. I think there’s more to come. I think there’s a lot more to come.”
On how it felt to see an RSL defender finally score this season:
“The players have been working with our staff. Tonight, it really happened for us. It starts with excellent service from Javi [Morales], then it finishes with committed and aggressive runs in the box. Two fantastic finishes from Chris [Schuler]. It’s something we’ve been working on – both offensively and defensively – and tonight was a great night for it.”
On whether the 2013 U.S. Open Cup final loss to D.C. United served as motivation for tonight:
“It wasn’t really on my mind too much. It was more on my heart, just that feeling that they came here and beat us and won a trophy on our field. That wasn’t really our focus. Our focus was on ourselves, in getting three points, and getting back to where we want to be – that’s the MLS playoffs and the MLS Cup.”
On the performances of DF Abdoulie Mansally and DF Carlos Salcedo:
“They were both very good, very good. The first little bit was a little bit rough for [Abdoulie] Mansally – a couple of balls I wasn’t pleased with. His reaction after that was fantastic. He really got forward at the right times. It was a smart game from him in those regards. Carlos [Salcedo], to have to step into a position that he typically isn’t familiar with, right now is playing with a lot of confidence. He came into the Colorado game, had a fantastic performance, then carried that into the Homegrown All-Star Game, had another solid performance, then moved right into this game. Carlos [Salcedo] is feeling confident right now. Our whole back line is feeling confident. It was just amazing for [Salcedo and Mansally] to step into that situation.”
On how his club recovered from a rough May/June stretch:
“It’s just staying focused. The guys are staying focused, they’re working on a few things. We’re learning from our mistakes in the past, and everyone is unbelievably committed right now – on both sides of the ball. It’s helping out our offense and it’s helping out our defense. I think it’s just everyone coming together right now. We just want to stay humble and keep working hard.”
On why he believes GK Nick Rimando’s future is still bright:
“He’s taking care of his body, and as long as he’s staying healthy and fit, I’m sure there’s a lot more performances like tonight. He’s been working hard with Daryl Shore, our goalkeeper coach, and they’re starting to build a really nice relationship. Our back line is very good right now. Our whole team is playing good team defense, so I expect more shutouts. I expect more good performances from the team.”
On why MF Javier Morales came off during the second half:
“He took a knock. He gave me that look, like he was going to be fine, and then I think he went another three or four minutes, then had to come off. I haven’t spoken to him, I haven’t spoken to the trainers, but it looks like it had something to do with a hip pointer. We’ll evaluate him tonight and tomorrow to see how he’s doing.”
Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando
On getting the record against D.C.:
“It doesn’t really make a difference that I got it against D.C. It’s good to have a friend in town, in Ben [Olsen]. We had breakfast this morning. As much as he didn’t want me to get that shutout, I know he’s proud of me. It shows that he is a class guy that losing the way he did, that he still came over and congratulated me. Obviously getting the win is very important. D.C. is a team that I have a lot of respect for and have a lot of memories there. D.C. or any other team in the league, as long as I got the record.”
On the momentum gained from the win vs. Colorado:
“We had a sense of movement off the ball and confidence on the field that we haven’t had for a while. I think a game like that, in Colorado, against our rivals, with ten [players] does change seasons. Being ten men down, being on the road, those are the kinds of games that you need to win in MLS and I think it definitely carried over today.”
On his sense of relief after getting the record to himself:
“First of all, I don’t think that any shutout is just for myself. I might have my name on the shutout but it’s a committed effort from the team. This is not only my record. My name is on it but there are a lot of guys that should be getting credit for this too. Nat Borchers, Eddie Pope, Ryan Nelson, Chris Schuler, Tony Beltran, there are a lot of players. Man, I’ve been around a long time. But there are a lot of people that need to get credit for the record that I achieved tonight.”
On what we can expect from him in the future:
“I think I’m in good form right now. I’m happy, I’m fit, I feel like I can help any team. Especially playing with Real Salt Lake, it comes naturally being on that field. I feel good and I don’t see myself slowing up any time soon.”
Real Salt Lake DF Chris Schuler
On notching a brace for his first goals of the season:
“You know it feels pretty good when you can go up early in the game and we’re able to control it for the entire game since we got those big goals early.”
On shutting down the attack of D.C.:
“I thought that they had a lot of threats. Eddie Johnson is one of the top forwards in the league in my book and I mean [Fabian] Espindola was out here for so long. It feels really good to shut those guys out, especially for 90 minutes. For Nicky [Rimando], too, breaking the all-time shutout record.”
On jumping ahead of Seattle in the Western Conference:
“It shows that we’re playing consistent. It’s a long MLS season; it’s not easy to stay on the gas the whole time. Being on top of the table is always a good thing. At any point in time it’s good to be in first place. Seattle has been playing really well and that is a testament to the quality that they have so it’s going to be a good game.”
Real Salt Lake DF Carlos Salcedo
On the upcoming game against Xolos Tijuana:
“They’re a pretty good team. They have good players up top, and I’ve watched a couple of games from La Liga, so I think they’re coming here to play their game. That is to knock the ball around. They’re good on their wins.”
On what RSL needs to do in order to win the Tijuana game:
“We just need to do what we have been doing, which is to keep the zero and I think that’s going to lead us to win the game, because we just need one chance and one goal to win the game. We need good possession like we’ve been having the last couple of week.”
On thoughts on play against a familiar team and old friends:
“I was just talking to Nat [Borchers] about that. I would love to play that game, because I have a couple of friends on Xolos, and that would be great for me to play in that game. I know teammates from the national team as well from Xolos.”
