Quote Sheet
Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Toyota Park – July 3, 2013
Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On how the team performed today
“I thought we played an excellent game. Regardless of the early goal, sometimes you get a little bit unlucky but that’s part of the game. I thought we played good soccer. Tactically the guys followed the plan that we discussed and we talked about. We created chances, we were dangerous…It was an exciting game and again we found a way to create chances and score some goals. It was an exciting game from both sides. They left everything on the field. It was an important game for us, being at home again. It’s been a tough stretch that we have to take one game at a time but starting with this one it is important to continue to play well and obviously getting the three points was big.”
On the team’s tactical initiative
“Zonally, the way San Jose defends, the one thing we talked about was looking to attack more out wide. Just looking to switch play all the time with movement from behind and if we could get moments on the switch where we could isolate Dilly [Duka] and Patrick [Nyarko] and have movement from behind to create numerical superiority, that’s what we were looking to do. I thought we moved the ball well, we switched, we were dangerous, and the guys put everything on the field and worked hard. All the ideas we talked about were enforced and I give credit to the guys. They left it all on the field and played good soccer. It was exciting for the fans and the three points is huge.”
On what the Fire does to prevent teams like San Jose from coming back
“San Jose did last year. They came back. They were up 1-0 and they came back. This is this year. The strikers that they have are a handful, they are very good in the air and you have to be very organized in the back. A lot of times, late in the game, they are a team that doesn’t give up. They are very good in the air, they are very good at winning second balls, and they just seem to have that belief. They don’t give up. We respect it and we talked about it, but it is never easy dealing with it in a game. Last year we gave up a late goal when they came back and scored in the 97th minute or something, but this time the team defended well all the way until the end.”
On the way San Jose’s late personnel changes effected his planning
“It was just two guys, pretty much [that we found out about late]. We knew the guys that were missing with their national teams so we knew that. Obviously with [Shea] Salinas being suspended, we found out today, so it was just basically two positions. [The plans] really didn’t change. Whether you start Lenhart or Jahn or Gordon I think they are pretty similar with their ability to be very good in the air and the direct play that they like to play. Some of the personnel was different but their approach to the game wasn’t going to change. So it was just one or two positions we weren’t really sure of until we got the game sheet.”
On Dilly Duka’s impressive performances in the last few games
“Players need time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Dilly has a lot of qualities and ability. You have seen some of the qualities that he has but right now he is doing so well. Not only his ability to make good decisions, hold the ball, and be dangerous. He is a great one-on-one player where he can beat defenders but now his ability, like the goal he scored, on the weak side making those runs, getting in position and following the play…but he’s only going to get better. I think it’s a matter of time to get his confidence, to get acquainted with the players, and all that cohesion that you develop. It doesn’t happen overnight. You have seen the qualities that he has and now we need to keep pushing his consistency. I expect a lot bigger things from him.”
On Patrick leaving the game because of his hamstring
“His hamstring was tight and he wanted to go a little more but we pulled him out. He didn’t tweak it or anything like that but we will have a better idea in the next couple of days. When he walked off and I talked to him he seemed to feel like he didn’t tweak anything but he was really tight to the point where maybe another sprint [could have made it worse]. You can see the second half he wasn’t really himself when he was sprinting or with his ability to recover back. It was bothering him and I think we took him out in time. I think we will see in the next couple days.”
On Paolo Tornaghi’s play tonight
“That position is never easy, especially when you need rhythm, you need games. I thought Paolo did well. It’s difficult when you don’t play in a long time to step in. I thought his ability to communicate and talk to the guys and stuff [was good]. He made some good saves. I thought he was good. He’s going to get better, obviously, with more minutes played. It’s a difficult position when you don’t have rhythm to go in and play. He’s an experienced guy even with his young age and I thought he did very well. He does communicate very well with the guys in the back and I think that helps.”
Mike Magee, Chicago Fire forward
On the result:
“Our soccer hasn’t been great at times, obviously we’ve been shooting ourselves in the foot, but we continue to get points since I’ve gotten here.”
On his player of the month award:
“I’m so excited that we got this win tonight, that’s all that matters. We’re two points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. I know it’s too early to be counting points, but I feel like we are in control of our own destiny, so a win tonight is massive.”
On preparing to face Kansas City on a short rest:
“We need to get our rest. Tomorrow we have off, we’ll enjoy our Fourth and hit it hard preparing on Friday.”
Dilly Duka, Chicago Fire midfielder
On his recent play:
“I feel like everything is just going well right now. In a sports career it’s all about moments, it’s a marathon so you have to stay positive and keep going. I feel like we’re just in a good situation right now and playing confidently.”
On his goal and assist in tonight’s game:
“I think it was a goal we needed and a goal that was coming. We put a lot of pressure on them, it finally came and it was a huge relief.”
Chris Rolfe, Chicago Fire forward
On his confidence scoring in back-to-back games:
“Scoring goals is always good for an attacking player. The game against Orlando was huge for all of us. I think Dilly [Duka] had great game then also, which translated into his play tonight. He had a great game, I think Jeff [Larentowicz] played a solid game and overall I think it was probably our most complete game so far this year.”
Patrick Nyarko, Chicago Fire midfielder
On another comeback performance:
“It makes it exciting for our fans but we don’t need to put ourselves in that position to have to try and comeback. We didn’t mean for it to happen again, it was a broken play right in to their hands. We need to find consistency in not giving up the first goal.”
On Chris Rolfe and Dilly Duka’s recent play:
“It opens up everything for everyone because they have to worry about everyone. They can’t double team because it leaves a guy open. We got a lot of chances out wide today because they’re focused on everyone. If they sensed the outside was crowded they’d double team the outside, then Chris [Rolfe] and Mike [Magee] got open. We played a beautiful game today from the stand point of executing our game plan and breaking down the opponent. We just hope to keep that confidence going for everyone.”
San Jose Interim Head Coach Mark Watson
On the defensive performance:
“Well, first of all I thought overall the performance was pretty good. We did a lot of good things tonight for a game on the road against a good Chicago team. We created a lot of chances but we had a few lapses of concentration in the back and that is something you cannot do on the road and expect to get a result. “
On possible changes to the defense:
“It’s a work in progress. We have had a lot of different line ups so we’ve been working with the players that we have in the time that we have. We try to work on all the parts of defending-working as a unit, getting that understanding, making smart decisions on the ball. It’s not something that happens over night and we will continue to work hard at it.”
On perhaps sacrificing the outside backs for a more defensive minded player:
“I think Justin [Morrow] and Steve [Beitashour] do go forward well. We talk a lot about who should go and when and who should stay and when. It’s something we work on a lot in terms of sending the right numbers forward and keeping the right numbers back to defend. So we look at that all the time. One thing I don’t think you can do is sit back and not send anyone forward. That’s not a way to win a game either. It’s about finding the right balance and we need to work on that.
On the quality of the goals scored against the Earthquakes versus previous matches:
“Well, we are disappointed we lost the game. We are going to look at the video and try to correct our mistakes looking forward. But I thought the group was new, there were a lot of changes from the last game so we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare the team. But we are disappointed with the result and we will keep working.”
On Brad Ring’s performance:
“I thought Brad did well tonight. Brad’s a big part of this team. I know he doesn’t play a lot of minutes but he’s already ready when we need him. I thought he had a good performance tonight. What we will do, as a coach, I never really want to speak what happened on the goals, I sit in a spot that has the worst perspective in the stadium on what happened. I’m going to look at the video before I make any specific comments about the goals.”
San Jose Earthquakes Goalkeeper Jon Busch
On not coming away with points tonight even after missing so many players:
“We are obviously frustrated. We worked so hard tonight on both sides of the ball. It’s unfortunate not to come out of here two-two. Magee miss hits a ball and Rolfe gets on the end of it. Rolfe is a great goal poacher. He does that quite a bit. It’s just frustrating that you think you should get out of there two-two.”
On the defense conceding goals:
“I think without looking at the replay the first goal was very fortunate, he scuffs a ball and it somehow gets through two or three guys who are trying to block it and it goes into the corner. And obviously the game winner-their second goal, Patrick Nyarko makes a good goal, I will give him that. But the other ones are fortunate for them and unfortunate for us. What can you say? That’s the way the ball is bouncing right now.”
On working on being a team that is harder to break down defensively:
“We just need to keep working. We weren’t as organized as we would like to be. We got broken down. Tomorrow we will look at the tape and makes some adjustments for the weekend. We have to keep battling and keep organized. When we are hard to break down we are in every game. The guys worked their tails off tonight-blocking shots and doing the dirty work. They are a dynamic team with Rolfe and Magee up top, they test you, they spread you out and for the most part we did very well dealing with them. There are just a couple plays we could do better on.”
On looking forward against New England and getting some reinforcements:
“We’ve got enough talent on this team no matter who is in the lineup to get results on the road, no matter who is missing or suspended. We’ve got enough talent, that is why the built this team deep. And the end of the day, we have to get results on the field.”
San Jose Earthquakes Defender Jason Hernandez
On whether giving up three goals is a fair indicating of their performance tonight:
“Um, yes and no. I think we put in a great effort and did a lot of good things but at the same time, we made mistakes that we got punished for. I think their first goal was a bit of a muff shot and their third goal was another duff shot that went right to one of their players who was running into its path. You can call it unlucky but the bottom line is, these are plays that decide a game and we are coming on the wrong side of it more times than not.”
On whether he thinks San Jose is getting tougher to break down:
“To be honest, I think a lot of games this year we haven’t been completely exposed and look like a flustered or weak defensive team. I think through the course of a match, I think there are a handful of mistakes that are made and you either get punished for them or not. I think last year we didn’t get punished for them, and this year we are getting punished for them every single there is a break down. Unfortunately we are doing a lot of the right things, but we can’t keep the ball out of the net. That’s the game.”
On missing 5 starters:
“Any time we set off on a road trip and are missing 5 starters from the match before, you are behind the eight ball already. We are lucky we have a good team that has guys that can fill those holes. But it’s a battle. It’s going to take another strong effort mentally and physically in Boston and we’re going to have to keep grinding and push for a win because time is running short.”
