D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen
How Fabian Espíndola changed the game…
“Up until that point, there were a lot of good final third entries, a lot of good build up and a lot of possession in their end. It’s still about making plays and that’s what Fabi does. It was a long week for him, he had a baby earlier in the week and you know it has been a long few days for him. We decided to not start him and to bring him off the bench. I thought he and Sabo both did a great job of coming in and both worked hard to help us get the goal back.”
On individual performances…
“Patrick was fantastic. He pushes teams back, he helps us with possession and he keeps guys guessing. He has a good balance of understanding when it’s time go north and when it’s time to get a little possession and help us build. I thought we had a lot of great performances, I thought Taylor Kemp was good and our backline was sharp AND [Chris] Rolfe played his best game to date. I thought Nicky [DeLeon] and [Marcelo] Sarvas continued to grow in the middle of the field. Statistically, a lot of good but disappointed we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
When asked about the concern of defending set pieces and the third goal given up on set pieces this season…
“It’s concerning and it cost us. It’s just a matter of guys doing a little bit more, and being a bit more aware. In some of the situations people are going to be outmanned, it’s just how it is and there’s no excuse. We will continue to sort that out."
On the team’s fitness…
“I think we can get more fit as a group and we still have a few guys that aren’t there yet, for various reason. We need to get fitter.”
D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp
On what Fabi brought to the game...
“He adds something for us that not a lot of guys can. He’s someone who roams around and finds ways to over load and unbalance them and you could see that tonight. I think he’d be the first to say he was lacking a little bit of sharpness with certain stuff, but he’s someone that no matter what kind of game he’s having he can find always find a way to be dangerous for us. He’s someone that when we see him coming in we know that we can kind of push and we can add an element. He’s a surprise for us, he’s something that our team doesn’t always have when he’s not on the field and we can miss him at times and there’s a way that we kind of manage that. I was happy for him to get the goal. I know he’s been wanting it and he’s someone that’s always trying to get back on the field so it was good to see him get the goal and hopefully he’ll grow on that.”
D.C. United midfielder/forward Chris Rolfe
On the team’s fitness levels...
It’s still early in the season, and because we had an abbreviated preseason, with our games against Querétaro, our preseason was a little bit choppy. We weren’t able to get after it like we wanted to. It’s kind of tricky once the season starts because the starters don’t have the time to put in the extra effort to get match fit. I’d say it’s a little low now, but it’s only three games into the season."
D.C. United midfielder Patrick Nyarko
On the team's performance...
"We needed a win tonight and didn’t get it, so we're slightly disappointed. We need to make our home field a fortress and make teams scared to play here. The guys pushed and the mentality was there. Giving up that goal and having to climb back always makes it difficult; we put ourselves in a hole. I don’t like the result, but we still have some work to do. I like the fight that the guys put up."
On the team's equalizing goal...
“We kept our head high, we knew we still had time to get the equalizer and possibly go on to win the game. We were lucky enough to get the equalizer quick enough after the goal and still have some time to go. I think we pushed and at times, really exposed ourselves in the back, but we pushed enough to get some chances. Overall, we’ll take the positives into the next game and hopefully solve the little mistakes we made that cost us the two points today.”
Colorado Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni
On the match...
"I thought it was not the most attractive football. I thought, obviously, we were fighting against a good team and against the emotions of a home opener. It was chippy; there wasn’t a lot of good flow to the game. But I think, all things being equal, we came away with a good point here."
On the mood around the club/whether there is a sense of optimism with the way the season has begun...
"I think so. I think the last few years for us have been difficult. We spent a lot of time in the offseason really thinking about the direction we wanted to move the club. I think the investment of the players that we’re bringing in says a lot about that. More importantly, I think it says a lot about the group that’s currently here and working hard every day to get better, become a better team, and -- most importantly—to find ways to get results. I think there’s a lot of optimism that lies ahead. But it’s critical to start thinking about the present--how we’re going to get results now and continue to get better as a team."
On Fabian Espíndola’s influence on the game...
"Obviously he’s a very good player who has proven that over the course of his career here in MLS. He’s a very dynamic player. [He] has a knack to find those spots, to get in good spots and be dangerous in the final third. It’s not nice that he ended up where he did on that goal. So, he's obviously one of the more dangerous players in this league. I think, all things being equal, he’s one of the best players in this league."
On what he expects from goalkeeper Zac MacMath now that the signing of Tim Howard has been announced, and on MacMath’s mentality following the announcement...
"I think it would be different for any human being. When we talked in the offseason about the kind of football that we wanted to play, it was definitely building from the back. I think Zac is one of the best keepers in this league with his feet and his ability to play out of the back. Obviously, like I said, we’re looking at the big picture, and what we want to continue to do is be competitive all over the field. We had a good conversation with Zac a couple days ago, and my challenge to him is to be the best goalkeeper in this league… [could no[he’s just a real tough, resilient young man, who’s got this desire to make it. And that, for me, shows a lot of character in what could be a difficult time. [So] the way he’s looking at it is from a place of positivity, optimism, and continuing to lead this team. He’s been arguably our best performer in the first three games, and so I think [that] says a lot about the mentality of the young man."
On the team’s communications with Tim Howard...
"We had him over today. He spent some time at the hotel with us and the players. Again, for me, it’s not a huge deal. We have players come in and out—Jermaine Jones came in—and what we’re doing is we’re building a great culture here, where we want this to be organic. We want this thing to be driven by the players; we want a new identity. And I think, bringing guys like Timmy in—spending some time with him today, the guys came in, were excited to see him. He had a few comments for the guys—they had some dialogue—and we sat around as a coaching staff and talked to him quite a bit. It just feels comfortable. There’s nothing awkward about any of the changes that we’re making. In all sports, you’ve got to have great players coming in to challenge and raise the bar for everyone. I think this is a very good step for our organization. While we’re waiting for the arrival of Jones and [Howard]—the focus and all the energy is placed on the guys that have been busting their tails for the last ten weeks. And putting something good together, to string along some good results to put us in a position to really include these guys that we’re leaving out of the group."
On the team’s new identity/how he’d like to see his team defined going forward...
First and foremost, we want to be a team that can find ways to get results. Winning is like anything else—it’s a skill. You’ve got to work extremely hard at it. You’re going to have days like today where it’s not the prettiest and things don’t [come] off, as they did in the previous two games, but you hang in there. [Tonight] you’re up against a team who’s opening their season at home--there’s a lot of excitement, the stadium’s full, but we can find ways to get results. These are places—these are results we couldn’t get in the last two years, because the mentality wasn’t good enough. The identity wasn’t strong enough. And I think, in the first three games—and again, the players are taking the lead in this. The guys in the locker room are disappointed with the result today, because they felt like they could’ve held on. [They wanted], whether we deserved to be up 1-0 or not, to get the three points. And so, I think, when you ask what our identity wants to be, that’s the same question I ask them. It’s not about me. And I’ll say it again—coaches can only go as far as the players want to go. If not, you’re putting the cart before the horse. And I think those guys in the locker room there are some real men—men of character. They’re guys that I wake up every morning excited to go out and train with. And again, the inclusion of these next couple of players that we’ll be having, I think, will add to that. And, hopefully, we’re in a good place where that momentum will keep going.
Colorado Rapids midfielder Sam Cronin
On the overall result...
“Yeah, the result is pretty good. It was a pretty poor game from both teams, truthfully; pretty sloppy. So, a positive second half from us and a good set piece goal. It was just kind of a scrappy game, but it was good to get a result and we’ll move on.”
On the club’s investments and sense of optimism...
“We’re in a much better spot. I think we have more quality all throughout the team and more quality coming into the team as the season goes on. I think we have a clear understanding of what we’re trying to achieve, so we have big ambitions for this season.”
On the team’s proactive style...
“I think it’s good. The first two games were really sharp; we dictated the rhythm of the game. Today, we were just really sloppy on the ball and there was more movement. The second half, we got a little better, so it’s just one of those games where a lot of guys had pretty poor performances, but we still got a point. Even when you play poorly, you just get into the habit of just getting a point or three points and it adds up throughout the season. We’re pleased with the point and we’ll move on.”
On the additions of Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard...
“I think it’s clear that the club is making more investments and we’ve signed players that have a lot of quality and Tim, Jermaine and all of these guys will raise the level. They both have great experiences with national teams and at the club level, so they’ll instantly improve the team. It was good meeting Tim today. It was pretty short, he has to get back over there, but it was a good introduction. He’ll come in the summer, get settled in and we’re looking forward to Jermaine starting to train here in a week or so. But in the meantime, we’re picking up points and we’re playing some decent stuff, so all-in-all, we’re really happy with the way things are going.”
On goalkeeper Zac MacMath...
“Zac’s been fantastic; probably our best player all season. I think just the past couple of years for him have been difficult, but he’s grown as a professional, as a person, he’s an exceptional goalkeeper and he’s going to have a great career playing a ton of games. He needs to keep his head up and keep working hard. He’s been great; he’s going to continue to be great for us. We know we have one of the best goalkeepers in the league with Zac.”
Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper Zac MacMath
On getting a road point after today’s game...
“Yeah, I think right now we’re just happy to get a point on the road. Obviously, it was kind of an ugly game for us, not exactly going our way most of the time. So, we’re happy that we came out in the second half and kind of played our style a little bit more and to come out with a point is still a good result.”
On the addition of Tim Howard...
“Obviously, I kind of had a heads up on it that they were going to make it official this weekend. It wasn’t easy, to be honest, but at the same time this is my job and I have to come in and perform and I know I’ve got a few months to really prove myself in this league. I’ve got the full confidence of my team and the coaching staff and I really just want to show my best and put ourselves in the best position by the time that time comes.”
On Howard’s potential impact on the team...
“I think it’s going to be an appreciation thing for a lot of guys. We see this guy, who’s done so well in the EPL for so long, he’s played in the World Cup and now he’s one of our teammates, so his experience and all of that stuff will come into the locker room and have a pretty good feeling over all of the guys.”
