Head Coach Ben Olsen
On the match’s end result…
“It’s unfortunate and penalty kicks are never fun. I think this is a game where it could have gone either way and it didn’t go ours' tonight.”
On the team’s effort in the match and overall…
“We defended hard and the guys gave everything… this was a hell of a run. Don’t let this result spoil what these guys did to set the right tone and foundation for Audi Field and for the next generation of D.C. United. I’m extremely proud of them for doing that.”
On the team and its future...
“They got this city interested in soccer and our team again. I look forward to getting back here next year and working with this group to continue playing this type of style with this type of team at Audi Field.”
On the crowd tonight…
“It was the best atmosphere we’ve had at Audi Field, no question. That’s part of the disappointment in this whole deal… we don’t get to come back and reward them for the support they’ve given us. In the end, I think they appreciated the effort we gave and for the last couple months.”
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid
On the fans...
"They were behind us, pushing us, and helping us get into the playoffs. Without them this run would not have been possible."
On United's two month run and turning the season around...
"Memories were made, we had the togetherness and the comradery. We were together through all of it and we believed week in and week out the coaching staff, the medical staff, and the players. We were all together, we all had a positive attitude regardless of where we were in the middle of the season and we gave everything we had, we were focused and we were on the same page. For me it was one of the most unbelievable runs I’ve seen in MLS history so for us to turn it around in less than six months and get a home field advantage spot, it’s disappointing. We really believed we had the team to win a trophy in the inaugural season at Audi Field. But it’s soccer and it’s unfortunate for Paul to get hurt but for Nick [DeLeon] to come in and bang that ball from that far out it shows how much the club means to him and how much fight he has in him and for all of us to continue to push, even though we were down and so was our quality, and so was our grit. I am proud of everyone on this team."
On the significance of being with the club from the academy to now...
"It’s amazing, it’s electric. Audi field is the future so we have a solid base to build off of. I believe that this team is very sound from the front to the back, we have a good product and a good product on the field. I hope that we continue to build off this season and the fans stick behind us because that was something special that we accomplished and it’s unfortunate how it ended. We are not happy with how far we went but I think after a couple days we can take a look in the mirror and say we really accomplished something great, it stings but it was special everything we did here."
