SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On what he saw from the group that played tonight…
I thought it was good. It was a great exercise. I think the opponent gave us a couple different things to look at. They wanted to play, they wanted to build up from the back, but also very aggressive on set pieces and taking advantage of every throw-in and every corner kick with some big guys so it gave us some good practice for the Colorado game.
On if he got what he wanted out of the game tonight…
Absolutely. It was a good game. They put good effort into it and we give them a lot of credit. They’re done with their season. They have a break coming up but they still put a lot of effort and competed. And our guys I think did a great job.
On if they felt like they played better than 1-0…
I thought there was some good play, and I think we did a good job. Again, I think it’s an important exercise. It’s great for the fans to come see another style of soccer and it’s great for our guys to play against another style of soccer. Overall, I’m happy with the game and happy with the result.
On if he’s surprise how dominant the first half lineup was…
A little bit. I think you’re referring to that we mixed some guys in. I think that’s why you train. I think that’s why you have a group that understands how to play together. I think in the second half we became a little bit extreme with the mixing and matching but there were still moments when it looked really good. And I think you get to see a guy like Brad [Stuver], who he’s been working so hard since he’s been here to get out on the field, and that was nice. As a coach, you wish you had more opportunities and you wish the goalkeeper position wasn’t one that you don’t rotate often. But you know a guy like Cristian Martinez, also to see him come in and the spark that he can give, and our guys on loan to see them play, it was good. So overall we’re really happy and I’m glad the fans got to see these guys and I appreciate all the fans coming to the stadium.
On if the team will make a trade by the deadline…
I have no idea.
On addressing the situation between Kei Kamara and Federico Higuain…
We went through it as a team. We discussed both of the issues which we separated, and dealt with them both separately. And we doled out the appropriate, not punishment, but appropriate actions that would set the team on the right course.
On if it was good to have a friendly game acting as a reset button for the team…
I think so. I mean, we talked about it yesterday, is it good, is it bad to play a friendly? Do you want to get back out on the field after the 4-4 Montreal game? I think as a player, you always want to compete, you always want to get back on the field. But, I think yesterday was important. It was important to talk through that as a group and understand where we stood and how we felt about what happened, and move forward. And I said, we’ve been getting a lot of attention lately, and it’s for the wrong reasons. That’s not who we are as a soccer club. That’s not what Columbus represents. That’s not what we represent. I don’t like that type of thing.
On if there were different designed tactics in the first half versus the second half…
I think the first half group did a pretty good job at pressing and put them in difficult spots. In the second half the cohesion wasn’t there as it was in the first half. It led to the field being a bit more open, but that wasn’t by design.
On Kei Kamara’s response to the benching for Saturday’s game…
I think, in general, the important thing is the sign to the team. You have your leading goal-scorer, you have your Designated Player, and you’re suspending him from playing when you are in a game that you need points. From our perspective, no one man is bigger than the team and these are measures that were taken to protect the integrity of that. No matter what the comments are it doesn’t change what the effect is and what the action is. Kei [Kamara] won’t be playing on Saturday.
On if he thought Kei Kamara would apologize…
I think everyone processes this in their own way and Kei [Kamara] dealt with it in the way he feels was appropriate.
GOALKEEPER BRAD STUVER
On getting a chance to play tonight…
Anytime that I get a chance to play, I just have to be ready. For goalkeepers it’s always the starter that’s going to play. Steve [Clark] has shown that he’s a very good goalkeeper in this League, and I’ve learned a lot in my three years here and sitting behind him has been good, but on nights like tonight it’s good to get out and get a game and show that I’m just as capable.
On if he was bored in the first half…
The guys in front of me were playing extremely well. The ball movement was great. There was still of lot of organizing to go on in the back, just getting guys in line in case something happens. But the guys showed their quality tonight and it was definitely good to see.
On if he wanted more action…
No. Any game I can go without a save, it shows that we were well prepared for the match and I’d rather win 1-0 and not have a save.
On if he saw what he expected tonight…
Yeah, after the first goal kick, they let us play out the first one. But then they made an adjustment where they went man-to-man on every single goal kick after that, which made it very difficult for us to play out of the back. So I tended to go long a little bit more. But definitely they were ready to play and ready to press.
On facing a team with a different style of play and how it will help you…
Anytime I am able to step on the field it’s great. I think it’s good for this group to get out and play with [the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup] coming up. The Open Cup started tonight with those teams playing so I think it’s good for those guys to get a good cohesion going tonight so we can take into the Open Cup and make a run at that.
FORWARD OLA KAMARA
On scoring his first Crew SC goal and leading the team with six shots…
It felt great to play in the stadium and it was cool to play in front of the audience and get a goal as well, that was nice.
On settling into his form and getting more looks on goal…
Last year I played 40, 45 games, and started, so I probably need a little bit more time to get in that real, good match fitness. But, I feel better and better and I think we did well as a team.
On Veracruz’s centerbacks’ playing style helping the team prepare to face Colorado on Saturday…
I think so. I think the coaches picked that opponent [Veracruz] because of Colorado. I think we are prepared and hopefully we win on Saturday as well.
On the type of player he is and how to describe his type of play…
I like to go into space, but like crosses as well. I like how this team is playing, because I played with Strømsgodset and the football is very similar. I think I can do both going into space and being the guy at the end of the crosses.
On the comfort level of playing with Crew SC as a group…
I think it is always a good feeling to come to the stadium and play the game, you get that kind of feeling. MLS is different when it’s a League game, so we’ll see on Saturday. But, it felt good.
