New York Red Bulls II Head Coach John Wolyniec
On the leadership and energy they started with:
The leadership in the group is very good, a number of guys stepping up, making comments. A lot of guys wanted to talk tonight about what we should be focused on and what we should be doing. When you’re a coach and you step back and the players are talking about the right things before the game, during the game, at halftime, it’s a great thing and I’m very proud of that. I think it was just the energy of the opportunity to play in a huge game, in a final at home.
On realizing his team was a championship caliber team:
Nothing that I recall, my job lends itself more to being day in and day out, working out what can be improved in the team and more specifically in the individuals so I didn’t look at it that way for most of the season. I’ll tell you this, I knew from early on that we were going to be a good team, I knew that we were going to be competitive week in and week out. I knew we could be very tough to play against, and I knew we were going to be in every game we played this year. I knew that pretty early.
On the fatigue factor of playing two overtimes/shootouts:
We tried to do the best we could during the week to make sure we were getting recovery, giving a day off, made sure the training was done in a proper manner. We still had a number of our guys training with the first team. I certainly knew that could be an issue but we felt pretty confident that the group would be strong and we would put a great effort out because you know, it’s a final, so guys are going to pour their hearts into it.
On looking very prepared for this game:
We weren’t going to change much no matter who we were going to play, but yeah we had a whole week to prepare for a final so we watched a number of their games and had our staff watch a number of their games. At our club we work tightly together as a unit with the first team and the second team, and we had input from a lot of different people in the club. We try not to burden the players with too much information but at the same time try to give them the best information we could that would help them along the way.
On having played and coached for the Red Bulls, and hosting the first championship for the organization:
Yeah I actually let myself think about that this week, not for too long, but it feels great, listen I was proud before the game, I’m proud after the game. I knew we were going to put a good effort out there, I knew we put a lot of work in during the year. These guys have been great, when you have a team that, when you have different heroes each and every week, when you have guys that change players every week and everyone just seems to step up, that’s a good feeling as a coach.
New York Red Bulls II Forward Brandon Allen
On how it feels to win, score a hat trick, and earn the Finals MVP:
It feels amazing, but I wouldn’t be able to have those achievements without my teammates, they’ve been there for me the whole season and they’ve been a big part of my success.
On being ready for the next step:
Yeah I feel ready but it’s not my decision at the end of the day, it’s Jesse’s [Marsch] and I’m going to be patient. I’m learning a lot from Brad [Wright-Phillips] so I’m enjoying every moment learning from him and progressing from that.
On what he has learned from Bradley Wright-Phillips:
There’s one finish in particular, I think it was against Toronto, that I learned from Brad. He cuts inside, doesn’t hit it back post but hits it through the defender’s legs. It’s a top class finish, I love it, one of my favorites.
New York Red Bulls II Forward Derrick Etienne Jr.
On the victory and being a USL Champion:
It feels great, we worked really hard to get here, and to put up a performance like that, to go out there and win the game is an amazing feeling. I’m happy for the club, happy for ourselves, happy for myself.
On how he felt fatigue-wise coming into the match:
I felt fine, they did a good job making sure we had the correct recovery, had everyone go out there the day after and do a little running and then the next day we were ready to go.
On his goal and what he saw:
Brandon [Allen] did a good job of picking off the pass, when I first made a run forward I felt it wasn’t a good run, then I just checked it and he was able to find me. I’ve been working with Chris Armas lately on starting the ball outside the goal and curling it back in and I was able to get a quick touch out to the side and I was able to bury it.
New York Red Bulls II Midfielder Tyler Adams
On winning USL Cup:
Being crowned Eastern Conference Champions, we knew the job wasn’t done yet. We came here with a job to put down and everybody put their shift in and we just happened to win. It was a great performance by Swope Park as well, obviously they had a really good run, unfortunate not to come out here and win today but I’m happy for our team and happy for the organization.
On being the first signing and getting the MLS contract and the USL Cup:
Job complete as in every time that I come down here I try to work hard and be a leader for the guys now that I’m on an MLS contract but at the same time I have a job to do and I’m happy that we got the job done.
On the team this year and what made it special:
There’s a lot of different pieces but I think everybody had the work ethic this year and believed in what they had to do and the philosophy the coaches put into place. The high pressing, hard working and everybody has to put their job in and if you don’t put your job in and there’s one weak link, then the job isn’t going to get done. For us, everybody that stepped in played a role, whether it was an Academy kid, an MLS guy dropping down and playing, or any other guy on the USL team.
