SPORTING DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH
GREGG BERHALTER
On Crew SC’s overall performance
"Well first of all, I think give Atlanta credit for a good performance. They made it difficult for us. We wanted to come out and put a lot of pressure on them and get the crowd into the game, we had a fantastic crowd tonight, get the people behind us and really put pressure on them. They were able to absorb and we weren’t moving the ball quick on enough and unfortunately, we weren’t able to create enough chances. When you see the shots on goal, it was not good."
On the Crew SC’s defensive performance
"What I’d say is the shape wasn’t bad, it really wasn’t. I don’t think they picked us apart at all. I think that it’s a couple key moments. Having the desire to win the ball. When you look at their goals here, the assist from the goalkeeper and you wonder how stuff like that happens. So, that just needs to be better; we need to clean that side up."
On the short gap between games
"It’s a Wednesday-Saturday gap, same difference, two days in between. We’ll be able to handle it."
On Atlanta United FC’s first goal
"I’m not going to dissect the goals here, we are going to do that as a group and come up with the right solution. What I’d say, is defending - you do it as a group. Regardless of what happens on the ball, you need guys in positions to deal with it, and I don’t think we had that on that play."
On if Atlanta’s high pressure caught Crew SC off guard
"I don’t think [the high pressure caught us off guard]. Atlanta has two things that they do very well: offensive transition and high pressure. At the time of the first goal, we were actually getting after them and pressuring them and forced them into a long ball. I don’t think it caught us off guard, I just think in general we could have dealt with it better."
On Justin Meram’s injury
"I think it was a turned ankle, I think he is okay."
On general defensive performance
"We’re going to evaluate the game and evaluate individual performances. In general, what I’d say is we’ve given up too many goals. So, if we want to speak in general terms, we have conceded too many goals as a group."
On Crew SC defender Jonathan Mensah’s performance
"What I’d say is, it’s difficult for defenders to adapt to this league sometimes. What we’re doing is we’re working with Jonathan to help him adapt. In general, at times it’s been very good and at times it hasn’t been so good, but I don’t think it’s any different than anyone on the backline who has been playing."
On disappointing performance
"No, I wasn’t happy the performance, not at all. Let’s not sugarcoat this. It wasn’t our best performance and on a night when we had a great crowd, we had a great opponent, we had an opponent that’s snipping on our heels; this is where you go out and show who you are as a group and that’s why I’m disappointed with this performance. I think as individuals, I don’t think we had enough and collectively I don’t think we had enough, so of course we’re disappointed."
On Crew SC defender Nicolai Naess
"I think he stands where every other player stands. Any guys who aren’t playing want to work and try to get on the field. Any guys who are playing want to work and stay on the field, and he falls into the category of guys who hasn’t played and wants to work his way on the field."
Defender Jonathan Mensah
On whether Crew SC’s defense this match
"It was there in the beginning but then we were allowing them to bounce back and wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did happen. We just have to move up to the line more and get to work."
On Crew SC’s performance against Atlanta United FC
"It is not the result that we wanted. I think I wasn’t there today — I was kind of tired. The whole team also we all felt short. This is not a time to point fingers. I personally know I wasn’t there today, but we just need to put this behind us and keep working."
On the next step to being more consistent
"We are always working and there is room to progress. We are going to keep working and we will bounce back because it’s not going to be easy. We all know we have a couple games to go…"
Midfielder Artur
On whether he hurt his wrist during the match
"Everything is fine. My wrist is fine - it hurt for little bit, but overall, I’m doing okay. It’s nothing I need to worry about or anything like that."
On whether he felt disappointed on the loss given the team’s performance against the Montreal Impact
"I’m a little disappointed yes, but disappointment occurs any time that you lose. The last game was the last game, but we played a different opponent [tonight]. But yes, it is disappointing to lose, always."
On some of the positive takeaways from tonight’s match
"I think we pulled together as a team,connecting well thanks to our chemistry. We always try to play for each other. Personally, I wish I could’ve done a little bit more and we came up short individually, but we always try to play for one another."
