Head Coach and Sporting Director Gregg Berhalter
On his thoughts on tonight’s match between Crew SC and Orlando City SC
I think the first thing that needs to be addressed is the spirit of the group, because it’s not easy dealing with the circumstances that came in that game, and the guys hung in there. The theme of the game was ‘playing together, fighting together’, and I think they really did that. I think it was amazing to see us not give up; to have the resiliency to keep going even though we were down twice in the game. So, that’s first and foremost what I’m really excited about. I think the performance… it was strange, because I thought that any momentum we had quickly got hurt by giving up a goal. I think we didn’t come into the game with the right – I think – mindset to go down early in the game, but some things were really good.
On Wil Trapp’s game-winning goal
I think it’s a captain’s performance. You’re looking at dropping two points, and Wil [Trapp] comes up with a bit of magic, and I thought he played excellent. I thought he’s another one that really kept on fighting in the game. As unlikely as it looked at times, we never gave up, and I think that’s the important thing.
On the multiple altercations between the teams
You don’t want to see that. I don’t think the fans enjoy that, but I think when you’re talking about Eastern Conference games, when you’re talking about six-point games like it was tonight, you’re naturally going to have emotion in the game. What we’re saying is, you want to control your emotion at all times, but there are time due to the physical nature of the game, due to the intensity of the games, things get a little bit out of control.
On Wil Trapp’s playing a different role in the offense with his goal
We didn’t necessarily draw it up like that. I knew he was going to shoot from 20-something yards out - an absolute screamer. Wil [Trapp] contributes to the offense in other ways when you think about some of his diagonal balls he’s playing Harrison [Afful] behind the line in the first half, that’s how we expect him to contribute, and stuff like [the goal] is icing on the cake.
On facing newly-appointed Orlando City SC Head Coach James O’Connor
Good question. So I think you have to get used to a coaches style and what they’re looking to do in the game, and I think James [O’Connor] was very proactive in the game. I liked what he did with midfielders and build-up, bringing them back and opening them up and pushing the full backs high. I think it gave us trouble early in the game dictating our pressure, and as a result of that they got their first goal. So I think, to me, it was a well-coached team – good performance by Orlando. It took everything we had to get this win tonight.
On Pedro Santos’ performance
He’s another one that you can single out as having the right intensity, and not giving up, and really competing in a game, because in the end that’s what it comes down to: just really going out there and competing. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but when you put those type of efforts out there, you get rewarded, and I think he was a guy that played an excellent game, especially in the second half.
On Niko Hansen’s performance
That was part of the plan, to really get him stretching their defense, getting him behind their defense. I thought him and Harrison [Afful] in the first half were excellent; created a number of problems. I think from that standpoint, it was working. When you look at the goal – the first goal – that’s who he is. He’s a guy who is very explosive, and can work with that amount of determination when he’s behind the back line, and I thought it was good movement and an overall nice goal.
On the performance of tonight’s substitutes
I thought the substitutes – all of them made an impact in the game. If you start with Patrick [Mullins] and Eddie [Edward Opoku], I thought Eddie was good as well. Patrick was a presence in the penalty box. He had a header that was saved by the goalie… great save. That’s the reason we brought a player like Patrick Mullins in because we know he can make an impact.
On the importance of tonight’s 3-2 win
I think it has been a difficult part of the season, there is no question about it. We are playing some top teams, missing some guys at times and every team deals with that. But when you are going up against the best you need to be playing your best. This is an important win with all of the travels that we have had. It is nice to come home and win your home games.
On Federico Higuain dealing with back spasms
This is something that came Thursday in training and we were working against the clock to get him fit for the game and we came up short. No his back seized up and we gave him the adequate treatment and unfortunately he wasn’t ready in time.
On whether this performance was at a good enough level
I think what I would say to that is that this was not our typical game where we had complete control of the game, and that is something that we need to take a look at; how we can be in control defensively and offensively. And to what you are saying going down in games, we have given up some chances and it just wasn’t a controlled performance so that is the negative side. The positive is talking about the fighting spirit of the group, the determination and the resiliency not to give up in this game because it was not easy.
Midfielder Wil Trapp
On tonight’s performance
I certainly think we could have been better in the pockets, turning, playing behind. We did a decent job of spacing them out and getting the ball from one side to the other, back to me across Artie [Artur] or just wing progressions across the line and I thought the first goal came from Niko [Hansen] with some great running and Gyasi [Zardes] being in a good spot we could have done that more, I think.
On the team’s contributions
I mean, this is what we’re talking about. The ability for guys to come in and make a difference whether you’ve been on the team for a while or whether you’re a rookie, whether it is your first game after a week being with the team. Pat [Mullins] came in got us a penalty. Eddie [Edward Opoku] came in and caused havoc. Those are the types of things that we really want, and Mike [Grella] got the assist in the end. All of those things go a long way for the group as a whole and as a collective to continue to rise together and continue to fight for each other.
On the team’s comeback
Yeah, while you’re in it you’re just plugging away. We felt like we got kind of jipped on their second goal with Gyasi [Zardes] potentially getting fouled, no call they score and then there was a decent penalty shot, handball sort of thing and then we get the Patrick [Mullins] one, Gyasi scores we’re feeling the momentum. You just got to keep plugging away and I thought the effort was wonderful from the team.
Forward Gyasi Zardes
On the Crew SC’s winning performance
[It was] just the mentality. We had a great mindset, although we went down 1-0, and then even 2-1. We were really focused on getting back into the game. It was just a great, great atmosphere.
On scoring the first of his two goals
I saw Niko [Hansen]. It was an aggressive drive down the endline. I’ve already overran the first post, so all I can do is backpedal, and he saw me. Once he saw me at the PK spot, I just tried to redirect it towards goal.
On the team’s resiliency
It’s been a great last few weeks. The key message today was rise together, and I really think we’ve done that today.
On the performance of newcomer Patrick Mullins
I loved playing up top with Patrick. His presence is powerful. He’s a strong forward, challenging every ball in the air, and as you can see, it was a great debut game for him. What a way to come on and make a difference.
