SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On Justin Meram’s goal
Well, it’s obviously a great start to the game. It does change the game a little bit because you have intentions of seeing how the game is going to play out, then you get a goal so early and it’s like okay, now it’s a different game all of the sudden. Nine seconds in, all of the sudden it’s a different game. I think our intentions were to get the second goal, at halftime the message was ‘we can get the second goal here.’ We knew they were going to bring pressure but we also knew there was going to be space open in the counter attack and we wanted that second goal.
On what made the set piece kickoff work
It all depends on winning the first ball and Kei [Kamara] did a fantastic job of that and Ethan [Finlay] followed it up and Justin [Meram] running as well. It’s not something that is going to work all the time but it can be effective in creating pressure early in a game. Whether you score on it or not, you can create some pressure.
On the significance of a shutout
We’re halfway into the series and we think we’re in a good spot, but there’s a lot of work to do. The message to the group is that this isn’t over by a long shot. It’s going to take even a better effort next week to reach the final.
On the midfield battle
It was good. I think you noticed in the game the intensity level was extremely high. It seemed like there was very little space in the field, very little time on the ball, and that all stems from the numbers in the midfield. It’s extremely tight and very difficult to get your foot on the ball and control it. I think we did a good job, particularly in the first half when we were able to switch the ball from side-to-side and really break some of that pressure. Second half it became more difficult. But the midfield battle was about second balls and battling in tight spaces.
On what the team will be working on this week
We’re focused. I don’t have to keep the focus of this group. They’re focused on the game already so that’s not going to be challenging. I think just in terms of the game, the Red Bulls will be gunning for the first goal, they need to get it. We need to be patient, we need to keep moving the ball around and match their intensity early in the game.
On the team spirit at the moment
We were just talking in the coaches’ office about guys’ performances and a lot of guys had very good performances. It wasn’t just about the performances but the mindset, the work and intensity. It was there from every single player. You see guys like Tyson [Wahl], Federico [Higuain], Kei [Kamara], Harrison [Afful], Michael [Parkhurst], and our midfield. Everyone on the field gave high intensity, which really helped the group.
On Higuain’s performance
He was amazing. As much as people respect what type of player he is, I still think he’s underrated. I really do. He’s fantastic. The work rate, the effort, the control, he’s outstanding. You see how much he wants it. He leads by example every single game.
On Meram’s performance given his travel schedule
When you look at Justin [Meram], Harrison [Afful], Cedrick [Mabwati] and the miles that these guys put on, they don’t say a word about it. They don’t complain about it. They just want to be on the field. It’s easy to make excuses and say they’re tired or jet lagged, but they don’t say anything about it. Justin was exceptional; I think he had a good game.
On the team’s growth throughout the year
It’s a long year. I think that our job is to remain calm and keep making progress, then see where you are at the end of the year, and I think we did that. We finished second in the East so we weren’t too bad. I think fourth overall in the league, so we did some things pretty good. We stayed calm and wanted to keep improving and I think that’s the mindset of the group.
On how smart the Cedrick substitution made him look
He did a good job. I think a lot of credit goes to our assistant coach Josh Wolff, who pointed out how fatigued [Ronald] Zubar and [Kemar] Lawrence were. They were struggling and Cedrick is the perfect weapon to put in at that time because he’s electric, he has pace and he showed it a couple times today.
On if the near-goal from Sacha Kljestan was a wake-up call in the game
I think we wanted to limit them to good scoring opportunities. That was our focus. That was certainly a good scoring opportunity. They didn’t have many in the game, but that was one of them. The game of soccer is such that you need those breaks sometimes. Sacha [Kljestan] didn’t score on that one which was good for us.
On the tactics tonight
I think something you can’t account for is the intensity of the game, which changes, and sometimes the beauty of it as well. I think for the spectators it was a very entertaining game but aesthetically, it wasn’t the most beautiful from my standpoint. But, again, we’re certainly pleased with the result; I’m thrilled with the effort of the guys and at times I think we played really good soccer. It just becomes challenging when the speed is that high, the intensity is that high, the spaces are so small and then you have the fact that they’re chasing the game, which adds to it. But, I think we managed the game really well. I am happy about that.
On if the high pressure was a strategy to throw off what the Red Bulls were expecting
We wanted to certainly get after them. We identified spots when we can put them under pressure and particularly on the passes wide and I think that we did a good job of that.
On the depth of the team with Tyson Wahl and Cedrick Mabwati making a big impact
I’m really proud of Tyson [Wahl] because he’s the guy that played a role, obviously, mid-season and did a good job and then lost his spot to Gaston [Sauro]. He doesn’t complain, he’s always there for the team, he always trains hard and is always focused. He’s a guy that leads by example and you need players like that. When his number was called he did a great job so I’m really proud of his performance tonight.
On how the complexion of the series changes after taking a 2-0 lead
It changes a little bit but it’s going to be taking stock this week, coming up with a game plan. We’re still going to have to play. This series is not over, trust me. They’re going to come out hot in Harrison. It’s going to be a tough game. We’re going to do our best to try to score a goal. We’ve been scoring away from home, virtually, all year. So, we’re going to try and do that again and put some pressure on them.
On the versatility of the players on Columbus Crew SC
I think Tony [Tchani] has a lot in his skill set. He plays his role really well and we appreciate that he can score goals, that he can make a pass and that he’s good defensively. He’s really good. Kei [Kamara], he plays a crucial role on defending set pieces and you can see that how he leads by example and wants to clear every ball that comes his way.
MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On Justin Meram’s first minute goal
It was great, it's a play we have run kind of off and on throughout the year, and we knew exactly what we were going to do. Justin made a great play after the ball squeaked out when [Matt] Miazga came over and made a tackle on me. It’s fantastic. I think it did change the dynamic of the game going forward. We were unfortunate maybe not to get one in between, but to score one late and go up 2-0 was huge for us.
On maintaining the same level of intensity for the Second Leg
I just think we have to stay within ourselves and manage the game. Our goal was setting ourselves up for the Second Leg and I think we have done that very well tonight. Saying that, we still have 90 minutes or maybe more possibly to play and I think we are going to be ready for them.
On Crew SC registering a shutout
It's great. I think [the defense] deserve a long applause, because it was a heck of a night from them. To put a guy like Tyson Wahl in there and not skip a beat is pretty special and shows the depth of this team. When you need a guy to step up, he does and all the guys in the back, Steve [Clark] included, deserve a lot of credit.
On how they were so effective in stopping Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan
Just swarming the ball, I think Tony [Tchani] and Wil [Trapp] did a great job being around him and second balls. Mike [Parkhurst] and Tyson [Wahl] did a fantastic job of winning a lot of balls with [Bradley Wright-Phillips] being on the front and back of them. A striker like [Wright-Phillips] fits more to our strengths versus a Drogba, who is a little more physical. We like the matchup right now and we put ourselves in a good position.
MIDFIELDER JUSTIN MERAM
On scoring the game-winning goal
It’s one of those moments that you wait for in your life and I’m just blessed and thankful for my teammates and everyone that put me in this position to put that goal in.
On if the kickoff set-piece was the most successful it has ever been
Well, one other time – Chicago – Ethan [Finlay’s] [penalty kick], the fastest PK I think it was.
On how he is feeling following a long distance travelled due to international duty
It was tough. My body got banged up a little bit, but hats off to Jon [MacGregor] and Craig [Devine] and Dr. Edwards for putting in the time to get me healthy for this game.
On how important it is heading into the Second Leg up 2-0
Yeah, the first goal was not to let them get an away goal. We know how that plays and how big that is, and to get two goals at home, we put ourselves in a good spot but playing in New York is never easy.
On getting the early goal
It’s good, but sometimes I feel like after we scored, I think we gave them maybe, what, five corners right in a row? So I think we kind of fell off a little bit right after that goal but it’s just such a high. Obviously it’s a positive, but I think we needed to regroup after that because everyone was going a little crazy.
On evaluating Crew SC’s performance in the midfield tonight
I think they did an exceptional job. Their trio in the midfield is one of the best in the League and Tony [Tchani] and Wil [Trapp] and Pipa (Federico Higuain) definitely are one of the best as well, so hats off to them and to our defense.
