Sporting Director & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
On his team’s physical condition tonight...
I think that was an important factor. You can see in the latter parts of the first half we got tired. We stopped moving for each other. We stopped creating space and it became more difficult. I think Dallas is an excellent team, they pressure the ball really well so what you need to do is support the ball. I thought we lacked that a little bit. But, overall it was an incredible amount of determination by this group to respond and keep pushing through the week. We were in Orlando on Saturday, in extremely hot weather, back here on Wednesday and then doing it again tonight. So the guys did a great job.
On Jonathan Mensah’s performance tonight, and going forward...
I think for all the negative things that have been written about his performances it would be nice to see some positive things written. Because the last couple of games he’s been absolutely outstanding and getting a goal was important. To me it’s more about the performance, he was really solid this whole week.
On his 50th career win...
You always want to win games, that’s the most important thing. In the end it’s about team accomplishments and the way we play soccer. It’s about the type of individuals we have here, the type of players. It’s something nice, but it’s more about the team.
On his team’s feeling going into the break...
It’s a good mood, we have six games left. All we can at this stage is get three points in every game. That’s how we can say we’re a good team, that’s how we can make a push for the playoffs. We’ve been doing that, the attitude has been great, guys are confident. And you see when we are confident we can do some pretty nice things.
On Federico Higuain’s performance and how the team plays with him there...
I give the team a lot of credit for grinding through those seven games without him. Guys like Justin [Meram] stepped up, Kekuta [Manneh] stepped up, Cristian Martinez stepped up. Guys have picked up the slack when he wasn’t there. You can see when he’s on the field that he is a special player, and he can make things happen. As he starts to reach 100 percent fitness level he’s going to be more impactful.
On how his team responded after giving up the goal...
That was disappointing giving up that goal, you know, in the 78th minute. They have some big guys, that are good on set pieces. But, you know, we want to be better in that aspect. But the guys responded well when we were under pressure late, and hung in there.
On Ola Kamara’s 30th career goal...
Ola [Kamara] is good, he has an ability to move off the ball. His finishing is excellent, his movement in the penalty box is excellent. He falls into that category of very good strikers in this league.
On Hector Jimenez’s performance...
I thought he was outstanding. I thought he was excellent today, he is a guy that was singled out for praise by the staff after the game, deservedly so. He had an excellent game.
On Jonathan Mensah’s mentality recently...
The first thing is that it does take people sometime to adapt to the league, center backs especially. So, from that standpoint, he needed some time to see what the referees were going to call and see the intensity of the game. As he did he hung in there, he was able to deal with the negative criticism that was coming, and I think that made him stronger. You see now, his confidence is beaming and he’s performing at a high level.
On two straight wins and going into a break...
I think after this week the guys need to relax and get away from soccer, exhale a little bit. It’s been a tough week, and we’ll get back together and plan for the [Sporting] Kansas City game. But the positive momentum is there, it’s nice to go into a break with a win.
On how big the six points were...
I think it was important, I think it’s really important. Again, there’s points still there that we need to get, because 42 points isn’t making the playoffs, not in the east.
On Mohammed Abu’s performance...
I thought [Mohammed Abu] was very good today also. He was tenacious in tackles and good on the ball. He’s a guy that hung in there when he wasn’t playing, and spoke about wanting to play and when he did he performed well. You want them to step up when they get an opportunity.
On how the team kept a positive attitude after a long road trip not resulting in a lot of points...
I think we might have been ahead of the league average in that stretch. We won one, lost won and tied two. We right around a point per game on the road which isn’t bad. It was about hanging in there. We were disappointed in that San Jose game, that we thought we could’ve gotten more out of. We won the Minnesota game and tied the Orlando game, and tied the Salt Lake game.
Defender Jonathan Mensah
On scoring his first MLS goal...
The guy that was marking me was very tight—I took him in and then went outside so it was a great ball from [Federico Higuain] and I was there at the right moment and I got it right.
On his emotions in the exact moment when he scored...
It’s always great to get a goal when this is my first MLS goal. We needed it because they were pushing us, we were leading 1-0, and so the second goal was very crucial for us. All of the guys were happy for me, that’s why they all came to celebrate with me.
On the game-winning goal...
Either way it is a game winner or any goal is always important for the team. Obviously this one was the game-winner, much more important for the team because the team’s momentum is very good now we just got to keep working and keep them going.
On how he has adapted to the game throughout the season...
Yeah, getting to know every bit of the league—referees, other teams, it helps and credit goes to the guys they have gotten me through it all and it’s been great so far.
On his team’s upcoming two-week break...
With me I do not get rest because I am going back to the national team now but I’m pretty sure the guys will get some rest, have some good family time, and we will come back fresh and continue where we left.
Forward Ola Kamara
On his team’s mentality in the second half...
It was a tough game. Our mentality going out into the second half was get the first one. We actually thought it was going to be a one goal game; it looked like that in the first half, but after the first goal I think we played very well and leading up to the second goal I think we dominated and then I think we didn’t that play that well after that, but it was enough to close out the game.
On his team’s determination through three matches in eight days...
I think the group has a lot of energy right now. We’re focused; I think we also have some players back like [Federico Higuain] and then we got a new player in [Pedro Santos]. I think that help us a lot. New energy and good players and we have a lot quality in the team and you can see that now.
On Crew SC’s performance in the last eight days...
I think for us this was a big week and we came out on top of it. You know, seven points, that’s fantastic. I think winning against [FC Dallas] and [LA Galaxy] is kind of a statement that you can count on us and we’re going to continue that against Sporting Kansas City.
On his team’s attacking prowess...
I think we are going to work on our chemistry for sure and then you have for example [Kekuta Manneh] and too and [Cristian] Martinez always coming and giving a big contribution too. So, we have a lot of firepower attacking wise now, so we just have to continue. Now, the defense is playing really well as well. I see [Jonathan Mensah] and [Josh Williams] they have a good chemistry, they’re fighting. I see strikers, they’re a little bit scared of them sometimes, that’s a good thing and now Hector [Jimenez] comes with an assist. You know, we have a lot of firepower and people are getting in shape, you can see that, we’re creating, we’re beating good teams, so I feel confident.
On Jonathan Mensah’s recent performances...
He was fantastic in the last game and you can see it now too. I mean, every time he’s coming, strikers are almost backing out, you can see their fear in their eyes, so Jonathan [Mensah] has been fantastic this week.
On Hector Jimenez’s performance...
I think he was fantastic defensively: nothing happened on his side, and then he comes in and gives an assist too. I mean, it’s very important, because the opponents have to be scared right back and left back and the middle there with all the attackers, danger is coming from everywhere and that is difficult to defend.
