Columbus Crew SC Coach Gregg Berhalter
On message given to the players after the last match of the 2016 season…
“Well I thanked them for all their hard work this season, I thanked them for hanging in there. It was a difficult season as you guys know, and they didn’t give up and I think that’s a good quality to have as a group when you face adversity and you don’t stop fighting and you keep going, and they did that.”
On NYCFC’s playoff chances…
“I like this team a lot, it’s one of my favorite teams in the league. I like the flexibility that they play with, obviously they went with three in the back today to try to mix it up and give us a different look and they played nice, they play good soccer. As far as the playoffs go, I wish them all the best. We know firsthand it’s a difficult run but you hang in there, the intensity increases but these guys will be fine, you see the intensity they played with today and I think it was good practice for them for next week.”
Columbus Crew SC F Ola Kamara
On what was working offensively…
“They were standing quite high, so we got some good chances. Maybe we should have executed a little bit more. I found myself offsides a couple too many times as well, but I think we were dangerous offensively today.”
On the difficulty of playing without Federico (Pipa) Higuain in previous weeks…
“I mean, it’s always takes a little bit of time with the chemistry, but with Pipa and me, we just fit good together, so I can’t wait for that combination next season.”
On the prospect of an improved offense next season…
"We have a very, very good group of players. A lot of talent and I think it shows that we have a lot of fire power offensively. Next year is going to be good."
Columbus Crew SC M Justin Meram
On the past and current success playing NYCFC…
“You know, I’m just given space in the middle and out wide and I’m just relaying on my teammates to get me the ball in those positions. Those are my strengths, in the offensive third, and it was a good cross and a better finish.”
On NYCFC’s tactics to get behind the back line…
“I think tonight they played a back three because I think they needed to press us from our build up. That allowed us space in behind and we exploited them a couple of times. We just got unlucky today. We should have had more goals.”
On the challenge of three straight road matches…
“Absolutely. It is very tough, but this is how the league works. It was a good run and it was a good effort. We gave it our all in the last three games and just fell short.”
On coach Gregg Berhalter’s comments about never giving up…
“We have a bunch of fighters here. We have guys working for each other and never giving up. We played with pride tonight and just got a bit unlucky on a couple of goals.”
