New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch
On the result:
“It wasn’t a good performance for us, one of our worst of the year. So frustrating to know that this was a big game, with first place on the line and to come to a tough place and not be at our best. But we knew this wasn’t going to be easy down the stretch and we can’t let ourselves get too down. We’ve got to get over it and now move forward because we’ve got a big trip coming up here, in Portland.”
On his team’s possession during the second half:
“No. We weren’t really able to establish much of the rhythm of the game. I didn’t think our pressing was very good. I didn’t think that our build up out of the back was very good. We weren’t able to find many rotations and now find gaps in the midfield, so then we weren’t really able to settle into the game. It can be like that sometimes and then you’ve got to find a way to dig out a result, and the frustrating part is to go down in the first minute on a set piece, fight our way back in the game, end the first half in a good way, but then in the early stages of the second half, to give up another set piece. n the end, in a lot of different categories, we weren’t good enough tonight.
On New England’s defense:
“I mean, they were good in the back. They were organized. We didn’t do enough to put their backs on their heels, but it was a competitive, physical match and in the end New England did enough to gain a little bit of an edge on some of these plays, to come out ahead. But for us to not play our best at all, and to come to a tough place, and push the game at end and almost get a draw, it’s not the worst thing, but we can play so much better than this.”
On this weekend’s matchup in Portland with McCarty and Lade suspended for yellow card accumulation:
“We’ll have guys ready to go. I’m not concerned about that. We’ve got a deep group here. We’ve got a bunch of guys who understand their roles. So it’ll be a good opportunity for some different guys to step on the field and now show what they are about.”
New York Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella
On the result:
“We came off second best after two set pieces and we shoot ourselves in the foot first minute of the game or second minute of the game. So, difficult one. It’s always a tough place to come but difficult that we didn’t preserve it.”
On his goal in the first half:
“We came right back in to the game which was good, we had a good reaction unlike the second goal. I felt the first goal we had plenty of energy and we came back into the game and it was a good ball across and I think Farrell put it off his own bar or something. I just figured at first that I could reach it to maybe take it down and keep it playing but when I got to it I realized that it was perfect for me to strike so I just guided it into the front post and it was a good ball.”
On his team finding it difficult to get in a rhythm:
“It was difficult, it was a tough pitch and they put us under a little bit of pressure so I felt like we played direct a lot of time and it was difficult. They were ready for it and it was a battle that we came off second best.”
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles
On the result:
“We knew this was going to be a hard road. We’ve had some very difficult opponents especially the first two games in the back end of the final eight for the season. To go on the road to play New England and play poorly, we knew had a tough task ahead of us but nothing within us that didn’t think we could get all six points. So, since it didn’t work out today, we have to find a way to regroup, recuperate and find the sort of sharpness and energy that’s required for us to get full three points against Portland.”
On the difficulties a team faces on the road:
“We spoke a lot about mentality and understanding that there is going to be adversity on the road. There is going to be adversity on the road to greatness and we really feel like that we have the potential to do that but it’s in those moments of adversity and obstacles that we have to find a way through. So it didn’t work out for us tonight but maybe the next obstacle is mentally how can we get back on the right track, so that not only we can get a result in Portland but continue on the sort of a rhythm and play that we’ve had the last 10 to 11 games.”
