NEW YORK RED BULLS
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Jesse Marsch
On the physicality of the match:
Yeah, I think the game was chippy like we thought. Big credit to D.C. because they came in here and made it harder on us. They never really allowed us to get into a rhythm and establish our flow in the game. Part of that is that we weren't quite sharp enough but a lot of credit has to go to D.C. for the type of game they put us in.
On Kemar Lawrence's injury status:
Kemar should be okay, but we'll evaluate where he's at.
On Sacha Kljestan's performance:
It wasn't an easy night because we didn't get a flow to the game like we normally do at home so that ability for guys to stay focused and to do whatever it took to gain an edge on plays was really important. That's what Sacha did well. Sacha fits the way we want to play in that number 10 spot. He covers the most ground almost every game and that's what we need. We need a guy that's tuned in on both sides of the ball.
On possibly bringing on another defender to close out the game:
Yeah, we were talking about it. A lot of times we'll do that if we feel like we're being exposed on the wing. We didn't feel we were giving up too much on the wing but rather that it came through counter attacks and bad balls being given away.
On Ronald Zubar's performance:
I thought Ronald was strong. We know he's good in the air. Ronald's our best center back in terms of winning aerial duels. I think he's had a lot of good performances and this one was, too, for sure.
On Shaun Wright-Phillips' injury status:
Yeah, it looked like he picked up a little bit of a pull. We're hoping it's not too bad.
On the play of the Red Bulls' defense over the two legs:
Certainly to get a shutout over two games is a testament to the whole team but definitely the back line in their ability to make it hard on the attacking players. I think for the whole series none of [Fabian] Espindola, [Alvaro] Saborio, or [Chris] Rolfe got in behind our defense to cause problems.
On whether the team thought they'd be where they are today:
Yeah, I've answered a lot of these lately. Right now I don't really have too much of the big picture in mind. I'm [thinking about] getting our team ready for the next series. We feel that in order to honor everything that we've done this year and how far we've come and how everybody has been so committed and what we've accomplished so far, that in all ways we have to be prepared to go full throttle for these next games. We're going for the Cup but we have to make sure nothing gets in our way, no little things get in our way, from us achieving our ultimate goal.
On the concern of this game turning on a fluke moment:
Yeah, this game was alive until the very end. Anything was possible. We kind of knew it was going to be like that. There aren't too many playoff series where a team, especially in a two-leg series, just walks away with it. As much as we felt confident in our ability to be aggressive at home and score goals, the playoffs don't always work like that. I think tonight helped us mature for what the next series will be like. This is one of the first times, for a team with a lot of new players, have been in a do-or-die game, besides the Open Cup, but this one is where your season potentially ends. I think for us to survive, learn a good lesson, and be ready to move forward is really important.
On Matt Miazga:
Yeah I thought Matt, again, played a big role, made it hard on [Fabian] Espindola, was personal - you could see that. You know, knowing Fabi, he didn't want to give him any space and any time there was a matchup between the two he wanted to win every one of those battles and for the most part he did. I mean, he's matured. We've all seen it. There's been a lot of talk about Matt and the main thing has been trying to keep Matt focused on what's gotten him here and what's what made him good and what's made him successful. So, that's been the main emphasis, is just keeping the work day, the work week, and his ability to concentrate on you know really working hard to get everything. And he's earned this chance, there's no doubt. He's played well with the [US U-]20s, with the [US U]-23s - I thought on both those teams he was the best player in the tournament for each national team - and now, you know, he's had a good season and he deserves a look, that's for sure.
On Gonzalo Veron's adaptation to MLS:
Yeah, you know, in some of these games it's difficult to figure out how to - you know, Sean Wright[-Phillips]gives us a little bit of something different off the bench and Gonzalo gives us a little bit of something different. We thought that because of the way the game was that Sean Wright's experience and his ability to kind of put plays together and in tight moments still make a play was going to be effective. Now he has to come out and we put Gonzalo on and the one thing we know that Gonzalo will do is when they're starting to push and the game becomes a little bit open, Gonzalo's a big threat on the move. So he pressures [Bobby] Boswell, does well to get the ball, and then his ability to now put him on his heels and Bradley [Wright-Phillips]'s movement was very good - Gonzalo played a perfect ball that set him up so that Brad could choose to take a touch, hit a first time shot, run with the ball. So that whole play, you know, it was - the whole series, once it came back here it was like one play, we just needed to get one play right. Unfortunately it took us until the very end of the game; if we could've found a way to get that one play right earlier then we would've made it easier on ourselves.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips' goal:
Jubilation. I think our fans and their excitement, the energy of the stadium was rewarded with a big play at the end of the game and I think that's - you know, I mean that's what we try to figure out a way to do, is to just make a play to now give everybody a chance to congratulate this team, to experience this team, for the energy of the crowd to get rewarded. So yeah, I mean I guess I felt very good about that moment too and you know, we just want to keep going. We just want to survive and keep going.
On the Red Bulls-D.C. rivalry this season:
It doesn't feel like it was that lopsided this year. I think every game - maybe the second game that we had at home we kind of had a firm grasp on - but a lot of those games are tight, they're emotional, they're physical, they're what rivalry games are supposed to be. So it's been fun, I think D.C. from the beginning of the year, those early games, has made us a better team. You know, I was just making sure that they didn't end our season. So we tried in all ways to understand what they were going to bring and also understand what we wanted to - how we wanted to play, and it was a feeling-out process. I don't know that the series ever really settled down, you know? And it was almost 180 minutes of on its end, on the balance, one play, physical, no real rhythm. And sometimes that's what it's like, and our team did really well to survive the series and come out.
On the next series:
Yeah, I would think things are going to be tight. It might not be as physical because D.C. plays a very physical style, but - and there will probably be more football in the two teams, specifically Columbus. I think that the way that they play and spread the field, and the way that our style kind of contrasts with their style, kind of sets up for a really good series. And then obviously if you play Montreal, their ability to keep their defense compact and tight, and then split on the counter, and then you know you've got [Didier] Drogba. So I expect the next series to be tight but I expect it to be, if you want to talk for a minute here about team value, it's probably going to have more soccer.
On playing at Red Bull Arena:
The energy of the crowd tonight meant that our players stepped on the field and were excited about the challenge. Again, you know, it was just - it was like a crescendo, trying to get our team to make a play so that the fans could enjoy the team and enjoy the game and enjoy us moving on. So, I'm glad we made that play at the end and we love playing here. This is a great stadium, especially when it's full like tonight. There's so much energy. You know, typically our team plays a very entertaining style, maybe not the best tonight, but I think it's a fun team to watch. I've said that a lot this year. This is a hard team not to root for because they go after games, they're good players, they're talented and they're aggressive in the attacking third, they create a lot of chances, they score a lot of goals, so I think the fans have grown to love this team.
About Fabian Espindola comments about wanting the Red Bulls:
I don't take Espindola saying - I take that as a guy who's a competitor, who wants to try to show what kind of player he is and as players I think they all want to play in the best games that they possibly can and prove themselves against the best players. So if we have the Supporters' Shield, and then now you're looking at the next series and you're saying, 'I want to play the best team out there and I have meet them at some point' - I didn't take that as a knock. I take that as a challenge, you know, and our guys responded in a good way. And we knew that Espindola was a big part of the package for what we were going to have to do to be successful, so big credit to our back line and the whole team really for limiting his chances.
New York Red Bulls Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips
On the goal and leading up to it:
The first chance was something I was waiting for all game. We knew it was going to be a tough game, tight defense, so I was waiting for that all game. I tried to go far post and Bill Hamid the good goalkeeper that he is, made a great save.
On beating D.C. again in this type of physical match:
At the beginning of the game, it's just another playoff game, but after, it feels good to knock them out...We've adapted to [playing physical with D.C.] but we don't like it. We like to play football. D.C., no disrespect to them cause they are good at it, but they like to ruffle feathers, but I prefer to play football.
On moving forward to the Eastern Conference Final:
We got this stage last season, and we'll obviously plan for the upcoming game on how to get passed that stage, but it's one leg at a time, and whoever it is, either Columbus or Montreal, they're both good teams, and we'll take it one game at a time.
On getting a roar from the crowd after the goal:
It was a nice feeling after just missing one and I was buzzing for Gonzalo [Veron]. Both he and my brother have been training hard so for them guys, when they get on, if they can just give an assist or a goal, it makes me happy because they could very easily be playing, and it shows how good our team is because we got two good wingers in Lloyd [Sam] and Mike [Grella].
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Lloyd Sam
On the win over D.C:
Our objective was to get through to the next round and we've done that so we're really happy to go through to the next round. That's the main goal, and we got the job done. Credit to the defense for keeping the clean sheet.
On defeating D.C. again in the playoffs:
Yeah, they're our biggest rival so it's personal for us and the fans so it's good to beat our rivals...It was a chippy game which wasn't bad for us. We didn't want a game where there was lots of goals anyway, so keeping it like that suited us anyway...so it's good to see us grind out a result.
On the goal at the end to seal the victory and looking forward:
It was a great feeling to know that we were basically going through now, and we're in the Eastern Conference Finals which is a great achievement for us, and this season just keeps on getting better...in my head, we have a bit of experience going into [the conference final]. You want to come out of the first game with a better result than last year where we came out with a loss, and that obviously made it difficult.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Sacha Kljestan
On knocking D.C. out of the playoffs for the second time in a row:
Yeah, like you said, for me this is my first year here so I'm perfect in the playoffs so far. I'm perfect against D.C. in five games so - all jokes aside, it's a great win. You always want to move on in the playoffs, but it feels a little bit extra-special when you knock out one of your main rivals.
On the game being chippy:
Yeah, I mean I think we expected that going in so I don't think we were really too surprised by that. They are a physical team, they've made that known all season when we've played against them, and I think the way that we handled it - we kept our heads cool, we stayed focused on the game, I don't think we spent too much time yelling at the ref and things like that, I didn't want guy wasting energy doing that - so overall a very good, professional effort once again.
On Matt Miazga and Ronald Zubar avoiding suspension:
You know, that's always important. We want our guys to be playing every game. We know that we have great depth on the bench, but you know we want Zubar to get a good run of games here now and obviously now to have Matt go away with the national team and then come back and not be suspended is all good. So we're excited to have them both ready for the next game.
On his shot being saved:
You know, we tried our best not to get frustrated with plays and things that happen in the game. Obviously, Bill Hamid is a very good goalkeeper and he made quite a few key saves tonight which he's done every game that he's played and he's kept his team alive. So, we try to keep our frustrations aside and focus on the goal, which was qualifying for the next round.
On whether the team has a preference for what team they play next round:
No, not necessarily. I think both teams have a lot of quality and attack and have proven to be good teams. I think that in all games that we've played against both of those teams they've been close and they've been a battle and I expect nothing different than that if we face either team in the next round.
On his defense:
Yeah, Jesse [Marsch] always talks about the little things that in the end make a difference, and so one of them is winning headers, you know, poking balls away. We've talked about our front four guys and our ability to press and poke balls away in order to create turnovers and thinks like that, and just doing little things that can help out the defense. I'm very proud when the team gets a shutout so now for us to have two shutouts in a row, I feel a part of that. I'm an attacking midfielder, I'm a number 10, and so maybe that's the normal thing to be excited about a shutout but yeah, I take pride in doing the little things that helps the team win the games on both sides of the ball.
New York Red Bulls Goalkeeper Luis Robles
On dealing with the lack of shots in the series:
Personally, I enjoyed it. Didn't have to make too many saves, just had to come out and deal with some balls and some crosses. I think the compliment definitely has to go to the way that we play defensively, whether it's the guys in the middle, or the back line.
On Ronald Zubar entering for Damien Perrinelle:
[Damien] is a huge part of what we are doing here. For him to go down the way he did was tough for us. It's emotional for us because we're a family here, and for one of our own to go down that way-and he's had such an amazing season-that's tough. But we also have a lot of confidence in the guys that step in. We knew that Zubar was the next man up and he was more than competent. He has the quality to make a difference.
On his injury in the game:
I caught some studs to my forearm. It was one of those plays where I have to make a quick decision. I'm glad we didn't have to see the outcome if I did come out, but that's part of being a goalkeeper. You have to come out and sacrifice your body. I thought maybe it was serious, but as the pain started to subside, the swelling kicked in and it wasn't anything serious.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Mike Grella
On the win against D.C.:
It was all about the result tonight. For sure they did well to keep themselves in the game until the end and we did whatever it took to get the result and that is what's important. The next game is still two weeks away so we have to stay in good form both mentally and physically, and we'll see who we get.
On the fitness of the team:
I feel great right now. All the guys in here are very fit guys, very energetic guys. So I feel great, I'm sure the other guys feel great, and that type of game where the ball is always in the air, there isn't much soccer being played so you don't run as much, but myself, I feel fine.
On his early shot that hit the post:
Yeah that was a set piece run for me, and even though I hit the post, it was still a half a foot away from being perfect, but still I have to hit the target on it because that was a good opportunity for us to go 1-0 ahead very early on.
On what is so special about the team:
I think the thing that makes it the most special is that everyone is working for each other and it's a real team. There's a lot of teams out there that either play for themselves or they don't understand what it is to have team spirit, but we've had that since day one here and we're getting better and better every day.
D.C. UNITED
D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen
On the match and if he was encouraged by the first half:
I was encouraged by the first half of the game. They did everything I asked them and we fell a little short with the difficult part; scoring a goal, but again, to a man, everyone who performed since then gave us everything and went out in the right way.
On what was missing in terms of attack:
I didn't think we created enough in the first game, but again I think this game here is just a matter of a little bit of quality in that final third and making the play that matters whether it's on a set piece or a few times or maybe it's not shooting, maybe it's even the extra pass, but again, overall, extremely proud of the way they - that's as good as we've played here and again I thought it was a good night, it's just we fell short with the goal.
On if it's any more unpleasant losing to rivals New York for the second consecutive season:
It doesn't matter who you lose to, it stinks, but again I'm extremely proud of these guys and the way they've handled not only tonight, but the entire year. It hasn't been an easy year and we've had to call on everybody and that maybe more than anything that I'm most proud of with this group is that everyone's played a part in this over the course of this season, and again just proud. I'm disappointed and it stings, but it doesn't matter who you lose to it always hurts.
On if this was realistically as far as this team could've gone:
I always think once you get into the playoffs you can get knocked out, you can get to the finals with the right break or someone playing hot with the right help, with the right momentum.
On if they thought it was one shot or one favorable break from going their way:
Yeah, the game plan against New York isn't to go and get 15 shots on goal, it's not going to happen with us, but we're going to get a few looks in each half and we've got to do well with them and in the end those situations came about enough in this game to win this game, but we didn't make that happen.
D.C. United Forward Fabian Espindola
On what was lacking tonight:
Attack. Attack more. It's too many long balls, not much of playing between the lines and they defended well and did that almost the entire game, but the last 10 minutes that was too late.
On if hurts more that rival New York has now eliminated them two years in a row:
Yeah of course. I think it's a little bit more frustrating because we did a good job over there, I mean we played according to the plan and it was good, but we came back short because of set pieces. Then here they did a great job and we didn't score.
D. C. United Midfielder Chris Rolfe
On the match:
Well I think we put a lot into it. We were good defensively again, we did our job in that respect, but I think it was tough for us going forward.
On why he thought it was so tough both games against New York:
They're a good team. You saw how they beat us the two times we played here earlier this year so we knew they were a good team and we had to put in a little bit more and change our style a little bit to play against them. I thought we did well, but of course they came out on top.
On if it's any more difficult because they've been eliminated by New York two years in a row:
I don't think it's any more difficult. It sucks when you think about the fans and what they have to endure and they travelled here and two years in a row we lose to them, but for us, it didn't matter who we were playing we want to advance.
On if he had a sense that they had a chance:
I thought we had a chance all game. As long as it stayed 0-0 we had a chance. We didn't create a lot of chances all season and it didn't take a beautiful play for us to score so all it would've taken was Fabi [Espindola] beating a couple guys and putting it in the back of the net or a set piece or what not. I was confident until the final whistle or more or less until their goal.
