D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN
Overall thoughts on the match:
I thought the second half was good. In the first half I was extremely disappointed with several players that didn’t get that you don’t just walk on the field – any field – and play 67 percent. We’ve got some guys at times that don’t get what this means – and that’s disappointing. But in the second half the guys showed up, and I was proud of that.
I know it’s been a long week and [the players] ended up making a little bit too much of this because it is a friendly, but it just wasn’t good enough for me.
On individual performances:
I thought both [Perry] Kitchen and [Chris] Pontius came in and gave us the right mentality. Give credit to Joe [Ngwenya], Kinger [Stephen King], and [Austin] da Luz who put in 90 minutes tonight - I didn’t really want any body to do that. The other positives were that [Dejan] Jakovic and [Marc] Burch went out there and played really well.
Wolffy [Josh Wolff] picked up a little something that we’ll have to evaluate.
On the match:
It’s been a long week and a half; the weather has not been really conducive for soccer. I think we are still hung-over from the Dallas game. But I still need to see more, I still need to see a spirit about these guys – each one of them. And sometimes it’s our young guys that don’t get it, that’s disappointing. We need two days off; I need two days off. It has been a long week and a half, and I think everybody needs to get away from the game, including the staff, and come back in a few days and make sure we are committed to the rest of the season. I have no doubt that we will be.
On Everton:
I think that the worst thing that could happen to them was losing to Philadelphia. I thought they came in with the right mentality from the start. It was men versus boys for about twenty minutes, but then we started playing a little bit tougher. I think that has to do sometimes with guys that are young and not realizing what this game is going to take.
On playing international friendlies midseason:
Try not to pick -up injuries; we didn’t check that box. For guys that haven’t gotten the right minutes in the season, you want to get them in the game. For our young guys, get experience against a great club. It’s always a wonderful experience for young guys who come right out of college getting to play Everton. Just playing a quality part; playing a different style. There is a lot of problem-solving on the field that is very crucial for the development of our young guys.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER CHRIS PONTIUS
On the game:
We didn’t start the game right. We went down two goals to a good team in the beginning, and we were playing catch-up the rest of the game – that’s not easy to do against a good team. I think the second half was a lot better, but it wasn’t enough.
On his goal:
I see [Dwayne De Rosario] pick the ball up in midfield, and I made a darting run in behind the centerbacks and stayed onside. The ‘keeper stayed on his line and I just slotted [the ball] past him.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER KURT MORSINK
Impressions of the game:
We had a chance to score in the first minute, instead two minutes later we went down after [Everton] got [a goal]. Around the 20th minute we put some passes together – we had [Josh] Wolffy’s chance, and Andy [Najar] hit the post. Everton got the score to 2-0 and dictated the first half. In the second half we did well to get a goal back and we were within striking distance, and then [Everton] got the third goal. It was one of those things where we were close but couldn’t bridge the gap. Everton got their goals at the right moments and they are a team that understands how to control a game as one of the best teams in the world.
On playing Everton:
Anytime you get to play a team of Everton’s caliber is an honor. You try to take every game seriously, and although it was hot, we did that tonight. Both teams struggled early to find a rhythm, but I think the fans got a good show.
EVERTON MANAGER DAVID MOYES
On the game:
We got the result. I thought it was a good game. [D.C. United] had a few chances as well – took some shots. We did as well, so I thought it was a good result. I think the conditions played a part and I give credit to both teams for trying to make the game as competitive as they could.
On the play of his young players:
I thought [the young players] did fine. It’s actually quite a big thing to come here and play. These are big games and they are excited they are playing for Everton.
On his team’s fitness:
We’re not ready yet to start [the season], but as you said we’ve got a few weeks to go. The weather was very hot here, but we’ll be back next week and will continue to try to improve.
EVERTON MIDFIELDER TIM CAHILL
On the game:
[It was a] great game. I think for us, it was important that we started off right. We showed good tempo and treated it like any other game that we play and tried to get out on top. It was a good game. [D.C. United] are tough opponents. The weather was awkward, but I was trying to get the fitness as much as I could out there and tried to enjoy the game. Overall, it’s been a successful night.
On positives gained from playing the friendly:
You just deal with [the heat]. This is all about fitness and it’s a great place to come – great venue, great people, great city, and a good team. So, to top it all off we embraced it and enjoyed it. The positives from the game are the fitness was good and some of the football was great.
On D.C. United:
[They had] some good players, some really good players. They’re strong and they really put their foot in as well. It’s great for American football and it’s good for us to come and try the competition out.
EVERTON DEFENDER PHIL NEVILLE
On the game:
It was an enjoyable game for us. We got a lot of space, the early goal helped give us confidence, and even though the conditions were really tough for us I think we showed our class. It was a good workout. It was a good result and we’re looking forward to going home now.
On playing in the hot temperatures:
It was very difficult to play at the Premiership tempo in those conditions, but what you have to do is keep the ball and you have to use it as a fitness exercise. The plus thing is that when we go home we will be a lot fitter for this experience and that’s what the tour is all about. It’s about pushing yourself in these kinds of conditions and when you get home things are a little bit easier.
On D.C. United:
[D.C. United] has some good young players. I was impressed with [Dwayne] De Rosario, I’ve seen a lot of him in the MLS. I’m a big fan of the MLS, so I was impressed with him. [D.C. United] was a good team and it was obviously a good test for the D.C. United players. Coming in midseason, this is probably somewhat of a distraction for these players when you’ve got League games on either side of these games, but it’s a good experience and it tested them against the Premiership players. [D.C. United] can be proud of their efforts tonight, but I think the quality in the Premiership showed.
