D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen
Overall thoughts…
“It’s a win, a 3-0 win. I think, if we’re getting greedy, it should’ve been more than that. I think if that group had more playing time together, maybe some of that final stuff would’ve clicked better. I give Montego Bay credit. They came here and gave everything they had. It was nice to have Tim [Hankinson] there on the sidelines; we go way back. He’s had that group for a very short time, and he’ll get them organized and make them a better team.”
On Miguel Aguilar’s second goal in as many CCL games…
“We asked Miguel tonight to just simplify his game. He got his goal down in Panama, but I didn’t think he had a great game. We asked him to simplify his game, connect passes and move. When he does that, he’s a very good young player. He always has the ability to score. He has the most success running off the ball. Tonight he created a lot of possession; he picked the right times for his magic, and for the most part, he played simple. He was one of the bright spots tonight.”
On Michael Farfan’s two-assist performance…
“Michael makes it look easy out there, his instincts are so good and he’s so technical. He helps us connect the game, and he’s going to be a real piece for us for the rest of the year in the league. Where exactly he fits in is still something we’re all working on, but we know he fits, and that’s a good thing. We have the weekend game against New York, which is a huge game for us and them as well, then we have a little bit of a break. Hopefully, after that break, we’re going to finally get our best XI on the field, have health and go from there.”
D.C. United Midfielder Miguel Aguilar
On the team’s chemistry…
“Yeah, I think you can see the chemistry between me and other guys like Jairo [Arrieta] and Facundo [Coria]. We all get along off the field and I think it shows on the field as well.”
On his goal off of a Michael Farfan assist…
“We just made eye contact. I saw [Farfan] when he had the ball and he knew where I was going to run to; he put the ball right there and I got to it. With that angle, the only place I could go was hard and low.”
On getting minutes in SCCL play…
“I think it is great from the experience standpoint, getting minutes under my belt and developing as a player while playing against different teams with different styles and being able to adapt to everything.”
On working with head coach Ben Olsen…
“He just tells me to connect passes and once the game opens up do what you know how to do. I think tonight it showed. I kept my game simple, gave the ball to the open guy and when it was my turn to go and take guys on, I did that.”
On facing a different team…
“With teams like these, you never know what to expect. You have an idea, but you are never really sure. From the beginning, the mentality has been to impose our game, play the way we want to play and I think that has paid off for us.”
Montego Bay United FC Head Coach Tim Hankinson
Comments on the game…
“Well, I think some of the things that plagued the team were some defensive errors, failing to take the chances that we had around the box and to do better with them. Those are the areas that we have to clean up. I think some of the general play through the midfield, the buildup, we had some possession going. We challenged them and created a block in the middle of the field that forced them to play long and out of their usual possession game for most of the first half. But again, we’re at the beginning of a process. We’re gaining match fitness. This is only our second game. No preparation games, and therefore we’re kind of in the frying pan trying to bring a 90-minute performance together so, there are some disappointments tonight but also some things to build on."
Thoughts on threatening in the first 15 minutes…
“Yeah we did, we have some players that can make that happen. You know on a night like tonight, you have to take advantage of those. You can’t miss those opportunities because they’re not going to be there all night. But I was very proud of the guys. This was our first time that we’ve been in a match together, and therefore I had curiosities going in about which guys would show up on game day. Some guys are great practice players but may not quite have it to beat the challenge of D.C., and so there are a lot of things I learned about the personalities of the team and the qualities of the team and certainly a lot of work has to be done.
Thoughts on facing an MLS side…
“Yeah, that’s why I have gray hair. The wall of Hall of Famers this club has when you start looking at Pope, Agoos, Ritchie Williams, Ben Olsen, Etcheverry, Moreno, all of these guys were the class of the league for so long. I was fortunate to be coaching the Tampa Bay Mutiny through some of that and the Colorado Rapids through another part of that. We had some fun players too: Carlos Valderrama, Dominic Kinnear and Steve Ralston. So just walking back in the stadium, seeing Ben Olsen on the sideline and remembering some of the flashbacks, the great moments here, it’s always a thrill and it’s great to have the enjoyment and honor to go against MLS soccer again.”
