D.C. United
D.C. United – Head Coach, Ben Olsen
On the game:
It was a good old-fashioned grind out with a little luck on the side. But we talked about this, we said until we are clicking everywhere around the field and really have our identity of who we are, we've got to find a way to get points until that happens, and I think we did that tonight. They had a bunch of chances. They were very good, they were a better team. I didn't think we did enough with the ball playing out of trouble and having stretches of possession. And then it was a bit of a vicious cycle where we were giving the ball away and we were tired from defending for so long.
On what he saw out of Davy Arnaud:
I don't think anybody offensively really had a great day, but it was more collectively we didn't get enough of the ball. Davy's a grinder. Davy's still going to always be a positive for you out there. I thought Eddie's movement was very good, I thought he continued to play well out there and do what we're asking of him. I know the goal didn't come again, and you guys will be all over that, but maybe try to focus on three points and how well he's playing, holding the ball up and doing some of the stuff this team needs to pick up three points.
On what the team could have done better:
We probably sat back a little bit too much. We weren't aggressive enough in our ideas and, also defensively, if you sit back on teams like New York, they'll pick you apart. I thought Dax [McCarty] was very good and Thierry [Henry] was his usual dangerous self, but again it was a grind out, we've got to get better, we've got a lot to work on and until we get to that point, it's important to find ways to get points in this league, and we found a way today.
On Bill Hamid:
He didn't aggravate it, he pushed himself a couple trainings to see if he could go, and we decided at the end that the foot needs a couple more days rest.
On set pieces for this year’s team:
You can see it can get you points. It doesn’t matter what league you're in in the world, if you're good on set pieces you can steal points. Sometimes it’s the difference in getting to the playoffs. We had several focuses in the offseason, and one of them was to get better on set pieces. It's not just guys putting their heads in tough spots, it's also service, and I thought Fabian’s service was great.
On winning without Eddie Johnson and Nick DeLeon scoring goals:
It's encouraging. I like what Eddie's doing for us. I'm very pleased with how he's playing. Could he finish one or two? Yes of course, and he'll be tough on himself for those, but I'm happy with some parts of us, and I think there's a lot of room to grow with this team.
On the team bonding together:
We're still trying to figure out who we are. [Chris] Rolfe comes in, he's been here for less than two weeks, and he starts his first game at left midfield. All these relationships need some time, I thought we did well; it's not easy jumping in for the first time in a real game.
On if the team knows the importance of a win against its rivals:
I think so. Maybe more to me than some of them because I’ve been around this rivalry for a long time and it means a lot to me. Mike means a lot to me, he's a good friend, and I have a lot of respect for what that organization has done and what they mean for the league. So, it's a big win for D.C. United.
Davy Arnaud – Midfielder, D.C. United
On his goal:
You know, it’s funny. Chad Ashton talked earlier in the week about that run at the back post. A lot of times people don’t get there, and a lot of times the ball goes right there. And so, he told me to go there and the first corner there it is, right there.
On the early goal:
You don’t want to say you can score too early, but there is never a bad time for a goal. But when you score that early, it maybe changes the way you play a little bit. I thought we were a little deep, you know, too early we got caught sitting a little too deep. I feel like we protected the lead a little bit, especially in the second half. We shoveled to get out. We really continued to play because we were up one-zero but, you know, it is good. A goal is good at any time, but the way that we held on to get the zero and get three points, is great.
On finding ways to get points:
Yeah, I mean you have to, that is what our league is about. You are not going to find any team that goes out week-in week-out and puts on an unbelievable performance and just walks over teams. That is not going to happen. It is a cliché, but good teams do find ways to win games. Tonight wasn’t our best performance, that won’t be our best performance at home all year, that’s for sure. You know, we didn’t play as well as we did last week, but at the end of the day, we walk out of here with three points.
Nick DeLeon – Midfieler, D.C. United
On Offseason Acquisitions:
Our general manager (Dave Kasper) did a good job in the offseason brining in some good names, and like we have been saying, it is going to take time for us to get on the same page playing together. But, we are starting to put results together, so it seems we are moving in the right direction.
On Set Pieces:
Yeah, we haven’t scored many goals on set pieces. But this year we have a couple, so I mean, cheers to that.
New York Red Bulls
Mike Petke – Head Coach, New York Red Bulls
On the result:
Hats off to them, however, at the end of the day, we were the better team tonight, but the better team doesn’t always win. I am very optimistic and very excited about a lot that I saw out of my players, but at the end of the day, we’re in a results business and we didn’t get the results.
On their chemistry:
I’m very encouraged but also at the same time scratching my head saying, ‘where has this been for large parts of the previous games?’ They obviously have it in them and all we can do is build on this; all we can do is take this and let it sink in and watch the video and see what went right and repeat it.
On their quick turn around this week:
It’s about getting their bodies back recovered before Wednesday. It’s going to be a tough game Wednesday, but fortunately we’re at home. We’re getting back tonight so we can get them rest tomorrow and then it’s about maintaining their bodies—a lot of light stuff for the next few days.
On the second half:
There were a ton of positives to take out of this game. For me, on one hand a lot more positives than negatives, but on the other hand, negative because we lost. It’s a very jagged pill to swallow. The back line did well for large parts tonight. Their aggressiveness kept Espindola and Johnson in check—two good forwards—and we need to see more of that.
On the lineup:
It was good to have Henry back, obviously. He’s our leader. He’s the guy with the most talent on the team. And it’s going to be good to have Tim back; he’s a hard worker. When Tim gets back—we’re still unsure if it will be Wednesday—but with Tim coming back, it’s even more experience and fresher legs.
Luis Robles – Goalkeeper, New York Red Bulls
On the loss:
There are a few different emotions; the first is that we’re disappointed. I thought we played a good game and it was encouraging. Offensively we were in position for a huge chunk of the game, we just couldn’t get the final shot on target. From that point it’s encouraging because we know we can play our game, but then again in the first five minutes we just lost our man in the box, and I think that’s where most of the disappointment comes.
On playing on their heels:
I just continue to stay focused, to do whatever it takes to keep the team in the game. We were able to shut down two of the most dangerous strikers in the business. We obviously know Fabian (Espindola) very well and he was just running for 90 minutes, and for Eddie Johnson, it’s only a matter of time, he’s one of the top goal scorers in the league.
Theirry Henry – Forward, New York Red Bulls
On the result:
We tried to come back. I thought we dominated the game around 30 minutes in to the game, but it wasn’t enough to win. After 30 minutes, we passed the ball well and we created chances, sometimes we were a bit unlucky. I don’t think we deserved to lose, but full credit to D.C., they won the game
On D.C. United’s goal:
It’s kind of annoying because that’s not the way you want to start a game.
On their missed chances:
Today we played the way football should be played, but we didn’t score. I’m pretty positive about the way we can rectify that and continue to play the way we did in the second half.
