Head Coach Ben Olsen
On the match…
“We came up against a good team and their spacing caused us fits all night long. We were a touch off but we handled it.”
On the team’s run…
“The last two months have been a lot of fun but the job’s not done. We need to continue this form and finish off the home stretch with a win to get into the playoffs. We’ve had the pressure on us for two months but it’ll be nice to put some pressure on Montreal now.”
On three clean sheets in four matches…
“It’s important to win games in different ways if you’re gonna make a run in the postseason. We had a game on Saturday and some guys away on international duty but it’s important to be able to grind results out. We defended the box well and Wayne made a special play.”
On Wayne Rooney’s free kick…
“We see it a lot in training. The percentage of shots that hit the net is impressive. It’s exciting to have a player like that in those moments and today we needed that moment.”
On Rooney’s performance in general…
“Taking the free kick out of it, he was sharp all night. Overall, it was some of the best soccer I’ve seen him play with us. His ability to hold up the ball and connect passes was at a really high level. His habits on the field are so contagious to our young guys in how he makes the right play, on both sides of the ball.”
United Defender Steven Birnbaum
On possibly clinching a playoff spot this weekend...
“We just want to keep the train rolling. We’re in good form right now and we don’t want to leave it up in the air for chance. We’ve got to handle business on Sunday and take Montreal out of it, without having to think about them. We’re going to keep playing our game so we’re not really worried about that.”
On the team’s defensive improvements…
“Obviously you can see it in the goals against, but it’s been a group effort. From Wayne [Rooney] all the way down to Bill [Hamid], it’s been a great team effort. Guys working back after a ball’s lost, or getting in the right spots in the box. I think our box defending is really good, everyone’s got a good understanding of it right now.”
On the run of results in the past few months…
“I don’t think there’s that much time to look back on it, honestly, we’ve got games that’ve been almost must-win games the last month or so. We’ve got another game on Sunday that’s just as important as this one. It’s hard to look back, we’re not going to do that right now, but we’re focused on New York coming in. If we win, we’re in, so that’s what we’re focused on right now.”
United Defender Nick DeLeon
On how he’s feeling…
“I’m feeling good. Tired, but overall feeling good. It was nice to get a full 90 in, and push my fitness a little bit.”
On seeing Rooney step up for the free kick…
“I was definitely expecting him to hit it, but that finish was world-class. I was smiling from ear to ear, it was an unbelievable finish by Wayne. I think it was a good momentum boost for the guys as well. We were defending a lot, so that goal was big. It was a big-time goal from a world-class player.”
On how he hopes to contribute during the final week of the season...
“I’m just going to contribute however the coach needs. I’m going to do what I’m asked and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
On the run of results since July...
“It’s hard to explain. I guess there’s just this kind of belief right now. Even when we’re not playing our best, we’re grinding out results and we’re finding a way to get wins. I think that shows a lot of character from this group and I think that has a lot to do with Rooney coming and the opening of Audi Field.”
“We’ve definitely been good here at home, but I think the big test for us will be putting on these performances on the road because we have had a lot of home games right now.”
On recording three clean sheets in the last four games...
“That’s crucial, I think it comes a lot from a good backline and some huge saves from Bill Hamid. He’s been playing fantastic for us. It’s a lot of confidence, for Bill, a lot of confidence for the [defense] and it gives more confidence for the guys forward to take some liberties and do what they do up top.”
