Head Coach Jesse Marsch – New York Red Bulls
On how frustrating the result is…
I’m having a hard time explaining what we’re going through because it’s another game where I feel like in many ways we established ourselves, especially in the second half as the better team. We’re on top of the game more and somehow the game slips. So it’s incredibly frustrating. I can’t explain it. I’ve never been through situations like these where consistently we actually do okay, but can’t reward ourselves enough for goals and feels like almost every time the team comes on the field we give away chances that wind up in the goal.
Honestly, it’s wild what we’ve been through. I’ve told the team that I’m gutted for them. That kind of effort and that kind of push that they showed and belief; that’s our pathway to the success that we know we can get to. I will continue to say the same things which is that I know we have a good team and this is going to turn. This is going to turn.
On what he told the team at halftime…
It’s because of the elements, right? The wind is a big factor so now when you’re pushing the game, almost anything that comes down the field that comes in the box causes trouble. We knew in the second half we were going to be on top of it. We felt like 1-0 going into the half was a good score, and if we could push the game and get a goal and then keep ourselves going that the game would be there for us. We got the goal, we tied it up and just let the game slip. That’s the only way to describe it, we let the game slip.
On Zubar’s performance…
It was good to get him back, I thought he had a good performance. It was good to have two actual center backs play center back for us, so that was a good thing. Karl Ouimette picked up an injury so hopefully he’s not too bad. Luis [Robles] had a great game, made some great saves. Alex Muyl came in and played really well. I thought there were a lot of really good efforts, and in the end, we seemed to come up empty.
On Kljestan’s performance and why he was subbed…
I felt that Alex Muyl was doing really well to be dangerous. I think it was probably a penalty, so it was a situation where we didn’t get a call or a break. So I didn’t want to take him out because I thought he was putting a lot into it. I thought Mike Grella was dangerous and creating chances and we wanted to get one more attacking player on, so that was the decision that we made.
On if he felt that the team should push for a winner after the equalizer…
I felt we kept pushing. I felt we kept going and that the second one was there for us. They also tried to raise their level a little bit, so to give them a little bit of credit, they pushed a little bit too. I didn’t make any subs because we were on top of the game and I felt good about things. I felt that the second goal was there for us. It’s been wild and I’m not stopping. The belief I have in this group hasn’t changed and it won’t change because I see it every day. Somehow we’ve got to figure out a way to get this to turn.
Goalkeeper Luis Robles – New York Red Bulls
On the snow storm and conditions on the field…
I mean it was windy and at times you just felt like ice was hitting your face and your eyes and that made it difficult. The elements were definitely not favorable, but that being said they also had to deal with it. I felt we did a good job of adjusting our game plan.
On having Ronald Zubar back in the lineup…
Zubar played well, he played great. He picked up a knock at the end but I don’t think it’s anything serious. That’s sort of been the story in the first seven games of this season, guys are picking up injuries that are preventing us from really finding a rhythm and finding a flow. And listen, guys are hurting. It’s not as if it’s a very flippant or whimsical attitude towards being 1-6. The guys in that locker room, they’re hurting because when we look at the way we play, maybe we’re missing a little quality, maybe we’re not as sharp—but the fight’s there and these guys are really busting their butts too, to make sure that for 90 minutes we’re going to be fighting and stay on top.
And whether it’s a little luck or whether it’s a little this or that, you know, I don’t think we have the answers right now. But I do believe if we can learn from these failures, it’s going to enable us to not only be a successful team, but a championship team. So right now is critical, but I have a lot of belief in the guys and a lot of belief in the leadership.
On Alex Muyl’s MLS debut as a starter…
He played great. Just to use him as an example, he was winning a lot of second balls and was playing with fearlessness. That’s the type of thing we expect from these younger guys. Even last game with Tyler Adams, that was a tough game to come into, but you see that the competitiveness is there and the confidence is there and we’ll continue to integrate more of these guys because we’ve got some great young guys. Alex and Tyler are just a couple. We’ve got some great young guys that are ready and they’re ready to contribute. So I’m very proud of Alex and Tyler on this road trip, going into difficult environments and they were able to get a good foundation for a bright future for both of them.
On making his MLS record 113th start…
Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this team and this organization. I’m just so grateful to so many people. Whether we want to go way back to my parents, encouraging me even when times were really difficult and giving me guidance to not only become a good soccer player but a good person. And then you look at my home life, I couldn’t do this without my wife. She’s there for me and she supports me and that just continues to trickle on down, whether you look at the coaches who have worked with me and given me a chance, from Mike to Jessie, the goalkeeper coaches who keep me prepared and the goalkeepers who are challenging me each and every day.
So when I look at the whole thing, it’s just tough because I really wanted to be able to celebrate this milestone with a victory. But I still feel there’s bright days ahead and maybe we weren’t able to get the result to turn it around, but my belief is still very high in this crew, and I do believe it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.
Defender Chris Duvall – New York Red Bulls
On the snow storm and conditions on the field…
Yeah, it made it difficult to play. It was hard to keep the ball on the ground because it was slowed so much by the snow. But I think it wasn’t as bad as it looked. It impaired our vision a little bit, but there’s no doubt that we should have played that game because it didn’t hamper us as much.
On having Ronald Zubar back in the lineup…
It was nice to have a steady presence back there. He’s a veteran and he’s got so much experience so it was good to have him back.
On Luis Robles making his record 113th start…
I can’t imagine anyone who deserves it more. He’s the best keeper in the league and we’re really happy for him. And we’re a little bit upset that we couldn’t get a win for him on a big day like that, but he’ll have plenty more and he’ll continue to extend that record.
On the build-up and fighting back to score a goal…
I think playing the first half against the wind was pretty difficult. It gave an extra element to the game and the ball would hang up, and in a game where it was tough to keep the ball on the ground, to have the wind against you was a big factor. Going into half, down 1-0, we knew we could get more in the second half with the wind. We were able to fight back, but of course we gave up another goal, so it didn’t fall our way.
On the traveling fans supporting New York…
That’s amazing. I think our fans constituted about half the fans in the stadium, so it’s amazing coming all the way from New York to Colorado and bearing the cold weather and fighting the snow, it’s amazing. It shows how important our fans are to us and they’re such a big help and we love them for it.
On heading back to New York for an upcoming home game…
We always love going back to our home turf, and I think that’s about the time that we need to start turning things around. We have a week of preparation and practice and we’re going to be really dialed in for the next game because things have to turn around now.
Head Coach, Pablo Mastroeni – Colorado Rapids
On the conditions…
This game wasn’t about football. It was about heart and commitment like every other game, but more so because you’re not going to be able to play the way that you want to. The tactic is to win second balls, get the ball forward and make plays happen. Tonight we did that.
On Jermaine Jones playing a complete game…
He really injected the group with a lot of energy, a lot of quality football, a lot of guile and experience. The most important thing for us that this is a guy who hasn’t played a full 90 minutes in a few months. In these kind of conditions, you can make so many excuses, but he was a real leader tonight and just found a way to get involved and really make a difference on both sides of the ball – him scoring that goal is a validation of his commitment to being in the right place at the right time, but most importantly, I think the guys will look at that as a performance that we can rely on. A very important performance for the group tonight.
On what he told the team before the match…
That it has very little to do with soccer and that it has everything to do with the desire to win, the desire to be great and the desire to want to keep climbing the table. I think the most important thing tonight is that we continue to build psychological immunity when you come from behind and you get these kinds of results.
Two games in a row where we’ve jumped ahead, drawn and then found a way to win the game. That fortifies the brain, it fortifies the belief, it fortifies all the work that we’ve done in the preseason to this point. It validates everything. That spirit, that drive and that determination to get forward and find a way to get that second goal. Badji was fantastic, very opportunistic. Probably could have had two more goals. Whoever steps onto that field does a job and does a fantastic job. I think that’s what team is all about. It’s not about having to have one guy on the field. You’ve got to have a bunch of guys who believe in one another. The one main story to me is that everyone is committed to the cause, everyone is committed to making the Rapids a team that people speak about in this league.
On Pappa and Jones playing together…
I think in the first half there was a lot of great combination play down the right side and it opened the channel for Gashi on the left side as well. As a coach, sometimes you kind of wince when Marco slows the ball down and does his magic. I think that first goal came from his ability to hold the ball up and play Mekeil [Williams] in. So these are guys who have something that you can’t coach; an unbelievable knack for playing football. In the end, it was a fantastic display of quality overcoming the conditions. I really look forward to those type of relationships continuing to bud and grow, and it’s always when you get three points as well.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones – Colorado Rapids
On the snow storm and conditions on the field…
For both teams it was not easy to play, and both teams did the best that they can. And especially talking about my team, I think when you watch the whole game, especially when we scored the first goal and we got some good chances to score the second one. But then to stick together and keep going and score again 2-1, and hit the post again, it shows that the team is in good shape.
On being part of a new team, scoring the first goal and being all over the pitch…
I always said that since I came here, that I loved it. The team was amazing out there and the coaches and the fans. For me, the main key was that my wife and my kids came yesterday and I told them when we had lunch today that the only thing I want to do is enjoy that game.
On being involved in almost every play, but particularly the long balls…
We talked before that when we have goal kicks that we maybe try to find me in a little bit higher position. But I like it to either defend goal kicks or get them in offense. But the main thing for me is that the team, in that condition, played very well, especially after I’ve seen how the team works after I went on away trips where we lost to Real Salt Lake, and to still keep up and get a win in Kansas City is amazing.
And now at home, in bad conditions, against New York. The Rapids are young and a lot of people don’t maybe have our team on the list for a playoff spot, and that’s what I try to explain to these guys, look game-to-game and be hungry and prove people wrong and that can be motivation. And right now, with me they won, and without me they won, so it shows that the team is intact.
On what his best position will be with the Rapids…
You know, me and Pablo (Mastroeni), we talked about a lot of stuff. Of course, everybody knows I’m a player, I love the freedom to go box-to-box and in my age of 34 and people say I maybe can’t do it anymore, it’s nice to prove people wrong.
On motivating his team after the Red Bulls tied the game 1-1, how the team is responding to his leadership…
It’s not only me, it’s a bunch of guys. So if the other team scores against you, you have to learn from your mistakes, but the game still keeps going and we had chances before and that was what I was saying—keep going and we’ll score, and in the end I’m happy it came out like that, but that’s all I was saying. Keep going and don’t let the hat drop now. If you show the other team that you get hurt, then they’ll push more.
On younger players like Badji scoring the winning goal and bringing a lift to the team…
I would say that it’s not only Badji, when I talk with the boys, sometimes it’s tough when you don’t get the call and you don’t start or you’re not playing. But in that age, it’s special for you, I always say, ‘Shut your mouth, train harder and wait for that moment,’ like what Badji got today. Both of them have amazing qualities, but when we come back to the group, we have guys like Doyle, who’s injured, and a bunch of guys are injured and the younger guys have to step up and they do it in the right way.
On what kind of leadership he’s trying to impart off the field…
I would say that all of my teammates on all of the teams I’ve played on, they know they can call me 24 hours a day. It’s not only on the field, I think a lot of people, they don’t know me and they would say that, ‘Oh, he’s a bad guy and maybe not the right guy.’ But then they’ll start to know me better and they know I’m really quiet normally, and every time they need something they can shoot me a text and I’m there. And I think that’s really important to hold a group together that’s older and younger. Now it’s time that we all to stick together and it’s good.
On being happy with the Rapids in Colorado…
Yeah, I’m really happy. At the end of the day, I’m really thankful, too. This club, they got me here even with a six-game suspension. They gave me an opportunity here to prove people wrong and I think you saw today on the field that I’m earning people’s trust back.
On your first game back, playing the full 90 minutes…
Of course it’s always different than a training session, but I feel good and I’m happy with that 90 minutes, and I think game-to-game we’ll just get better, so I’m good.
Forward Dominique Badji – Colorado Rapids
On what Jermaine brings to the team…
It’s great. He has a lot of experience and since day one, he’s been able to help the young guys. It’s clear to see it on the field – he practices what he preaches. He works hard every day, gives it all he’s got and it rubs off on everybody else. He makes us want to work just as hard.
On coming off the bench and scoring the game-winner…
Pablo has always said that the people on the bench are just as important as the people that are starting. When you come in, you have to give it all you got and sometimes you have to give even more than the players that are already on the field because they might need some energy.
I came in and did what I needed to do offensively, today just happened to be the goal. Other times, I’ll be asked to come in and play defensively – if that’s the case, I’m ready to do that too.
On your approach to the game with the conditions…
Coming into a game when it’s snowing is always going to be tough. Talking to Pablo, he told me to come in today with a different mindset and asked me to make a difference. With the conditions, we had to adjust and I was able to today.
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