Sporting Director & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
On his team’s performance against New York City FC
I think the first part of the question was about coming out aggressive. The message to the group was focused on getting a good start to the game; being very aggressive, showing that we are at home, getting fans behind us and really trying to attack them. I think we did that. I’m very happy with the start of the game and was happy to be up 1-0. New York [City FC] is a really good team, and we knew that there was going to be times when they had the ball and the plan after that was trying to hit them on the counter attack and I think we had enough opportunities, especially in the first half, to make it 2-0.
On giving up an away goal to New York City FC
It was less than ideal to give up that goal, that’s for sure, but great response. Our work isn’t done by a long shot. I think the guys have a good understanding that we made that clear in the locker room now. There’s 90 minutes, maybe extra time to play until the series is over and it’s going to be tough. [New York City FC] is going to regroup, they’re going to come together really strong and be ready for a good game on Sunday.
On his team’s good run of form
I think it’s when you start grouping games, then you run into a problem. We tend to just look at the next game and focus on the next game and prepare as hard as we can for our upcoming opponent and then we move on. So, even when we lose a couple games in a row, we don’t like to say the team is on a slide or we’re in trouble, we still look at the next game and try to focus on that. We just put our heads down, we keep working and focus on the next opponent.
On Artur’s goal
It was great. He’s been pushing for it; I know that. Not only that, the way he has adapted to the country, the way he has adapted to the team, to the city has been phenomenal. He’s a young player, people forget that but, tremendous work rate, and it was nice to see him rewarded with a goal tonight.
On Harrison Afful’s performance against New York City FC
Harrison [Afful] has been good. The focus that he had before the [Atlanta United FC] game was tremendous. In training, the intensity and the movement, and there was no surprise that he had a good game against [Atlanta United FC]. To follow it up was important for him. He needs to establish that he can continue to play at this level. We know that he is high-level fullback for this league, and he just needs to keep doing it because he is quality.
On the atmosphere at MAPFRE Stadium
I just heard cheers, I didn’t hear any of that. What I’d say, is, I told you guys this before, we repurposed our mission right now and it’s solely to play for the fans and give them as many home games as we can and let them enjoy something. Tonight, for them, I could imagine was an enjoyable night.
On Ola Kamara’s performance
He’s important for us. Not only scoring a goal, but just his work rate and putting himself in good positions, making himself difficult to defend. The backline always has to be aware of [his] movement behind. That’s not easy for a defender. The first thing is, we have guys that can play in the ball, but the second thing is he’s very aware of his runs and very good using space.
On his team’s momentum
Momentum is an interesting thing. We certainly accept momentum and we want to use it to our benefit, but we don’t rely on it. I think it’s dangerous when you rely on it. We still have to prepare. I told the guys, right now, it’s about recovery and preparation for the next game. We certainly have momentum. There’s a great mood inside the locker room, and the guys have been working hard. They’re doing every single thing we could ask of them. So, it’s nice to have a bit of momentum to push you forward.
On Justin Meram playing through injuries
We needed Justin [Meram] to continue on in the game. He had an early game in Atlanta, where he didn’t play extended minutes; Pedro [Santos] played a lot. We needed Justin to carry some of the load tonight and he did that. He’s coming back to form; a performance like tonight certainly helps him as he gets more comfortable. With him, it’s about timing; it’s about feel and when he’s able to get the ball in pocket, and turn and go at defenders, he’s dangerous.
On moving forward to the second leg against New York City FC
The approach is that we need to do what we’ve been doing and more, not less. We need to continue to be focused, continue to be dedicated to recovery and go into New York [City FC] with a purpose and that purpose is to score a goal. We still want to be aggressive and we have a lot of respect for the opponent, I think it’s a great team and we’re going to have our hands full in New York [City FC].
Forward Ola Kamara
On feeling comfortable in this match
I came into the game and I knew in a playoff game that the environment, how it was, we needed an early goal and I was able to provide that. Maybe I should have gotten two. But I think both teams had a lot of big, big chances in the first half and couldn’t really take advantage of that. When they got a red card in the second half and we saw a possibility, and four goals is a good result from that.
On Artur scoring
Yeah, and it was a good fake with the left there, and then he faked [Sean] Johnson too and then put it back. So it was a really good goal, almost like the Brazilian.
On staying hungry for the next match
I think maybe you have to ask him, but I think we have to realize that it’s not over. I think they can come out with a lot of intensity and we have to match that.
On MAPFRE Stadium’s atmosphere
I think it was a little bit emotional but that’s the environment that you want to play in. Everybody was really into the game and I think that we fed off of that energy and it gave us a lot.
On Crew SC’s response to New York City FC scoring
I think we were struggling a little bit before that. I think they had a lot of possession and they looked a little bit dangerous so when they first scored, for us to come back again and get that 4-1 differential, it’s devastating for them and I think it’s a really good feeling for us.
Midfielder Wil Trapp
On his thoughts about Crew SC’s fourth goal
I mean it’s an incredible goal first of all. So I think that you felt the almost deflation when it went to 3-1 right? For Harry [Afful] to score that goal and make it 4-1 it was the really the boost we needed and the breathing room we needed in this series.
On the approach going to New York City FC
I think we need to approach it the same way we did this game. There is a measured aggression about it, there is a focus to win first a fore most if possible and then to get a result because we know going there if you sit in they are a good enough team to score one, two, three, four goals on you. So we need to continue what we have been doing over the past two games, three, four games in a row.
On Artur’s Goal
It was great. You could see it in his reaction. He is such a hard worker. He does so much for us and for him to score a goal was wonderful especially in this game.
On the atmosphere of the match
I thought it was on par for the most part. They were so engaged from minute one and then obviously we gave them a show so it’s exciting.
On the momentum of this team’s last match of the regular season
I think all year we have been fighting and working to find the right form from all the guys right. We play such a style where every guy is important and the 11 make or break the team. So if pieces are missing or our form is not the best it falls apart. So I think we have finally gotten to the point where guys are confident in their roles, the right chemistry is there and it started with that game. Since then you continue to get results and you know how this league is. If you win one, two, three, tie a game then just keep on a roll it spirals into something good.
