Quotes:
Frank Yallop, Chicago Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer
On getting the first win
“From a viewpoint of points, it's fantastic to win our first game, especially at home. It's probably the best we've played for 55 minutes. We created chances, and felt we dominated most of the play. When the red card came, we really sat back and waited to see how the game turned out, where we should have been on the front foot, making a difference, and really punishing the team we're playing against. Philadelphia hung in there, they had their moments, but we should have put the game away before the 55th or 60th minute mark. We'll work on it, we'll look at the game tape, and make sure that we continue the way we attack. I thought the first half was excellent, but we have to work on the things that we didn't do in the second half that could have cost us the game.”
On performance improvements
“I've been seeing it in the performances, but obviously the results have not been there for us. I thought we played very well in the second half against San Jose; we created a number of chances to get back into that game. But, obviously, you have to finish your chances. We did finish the one set play that we had. I think Kennedy [Igboananike] had two, I think Quincy [Amarikwa] had a couple of chances, including a handball that may have been a penalty kick...but I was very happy with our all-around movement and play in the final third, which we worked on all week. We weren't as dynamic with our runs in San Jose; this week, we worked on it, and we looked quite dangerous each time we attacked. I think those are very encouraging signs; we just need to finish out those chances when they come.”
On the importance of the victory to team morale
“I think it's huge. Starting a season 0-3 is obviously never good for anybody. I felt the performances should have gotten us a bit more; maybe a point, a win, or something like that in the other three games, but that's football. The most important thing about this match was, we got three points against a conference opponent. We have another big game coming up Saturday, next week; now we can digest this game, work on what we didn't do, and get ready for the next big hurdle we have next Saturday against Toronto. Hopefully David [Accam] and Shaun [Maroney] come through their games unscathed, and we have a full complement of players, but we're pretty close to having those guys back and having a squad to compete and play well.”
On scoring concerns
“The chances we had, normally, you see them fly in. The big thing is the creation of chances. It was a bobbly, windy day, and especially on the Kennedy header, as he jumped up, he said he swung back and couldn't get a good knot on it. But if you look at Kennedy's performances, he's in some good spots; there's the one that Harry slips in, he should score, but at least he hit the target and was a little bit unlucky with that...I think the header might have been [wind-aided], but the one Harry [Shipp] slipped in that Kennedy struck with his left foot, on another time, that goes in for 2-0, and it helps out big time in the match. When [the lead] is at 1, you're always protecting that; I felt we over-protected our lead as a group. We were trying from the bench to get the information to our players to get out of our half for the last 15 or 20 minutes. It was difficult, but we'll look at it and work on it. But the 3 points were very important.”
On the midfield's performance
“The way that Harry [Shipp] comes inside naturally, Mike [Stephens] reads his plays, and drops towards the right side. We had Harry starting on the right side, Matt [Polster] and Mike on the middle, and [Joevin Jones] wide left. With the 4-4-2, I wanted to create more chances to get goals, which worked for the first half and the first 60 minutes of the game. Harry is a player that sees the game a little differently to most players; he drifts around and has to find his space. But I think Mike does a nice job of complementing him a little bit, slotting into spots that Harry leaves. I want our players to move around, I want them to be a little uncomfortable for the opposition to pick up, and I think we did it perfectly in the first half; guys were popping up all over, getting in behind them, sliding people in, and all those things that you really work on and want to happen. Harry's one of those guys that really reads that kind of attacking stuff well. Matt Polster is playing very well in his spot. He's a young kid, pretty bright head on his shoulders soccer-wise. I think he has handled his first three games really well. I thought he ran out of gas a little in the game today, but that's kind of a normal emotional thing given what we put into the first 60 or so minutes. Having said that, our balance was pretty good, but our last 15-20 minutes was not what we, the fans, I, and [the media] wanted to see. We got through it, but we have to work on that and make sure we are a 90 minute team, which we were last week; I thought we pressed the issue against San Jose, as we were in the front foot the entire second half. We have to learn from that, because that last bit was not good. But, I thought the first 55 was excellent from us.”
On creating goals
“You can work on finishing, but it's not always easy. Philadelphia didn't score either, and they have some pretty good players out there. It's not easy scoring goals. The big thing for us is that we're in good spots. If we keep working on finishing, they will go in at some point, but we scored one goal today and won the game, and we created some good chances to get the second one. I'm not worried; if we didn't create any chances, I would be worried.”
On the play of Kennedy Igboananike
“I think he did well. It's not easy for players to come over and settle quickly. Some do, some don't, some take a while, some want to get the feel of the team before they grow as a person and teammate. I think Kennedy is one of those quite kids that thrives in confidence. I thought he had a good performance today; good 60 minutes, lively, almost scores two goals. If he notches those two goals, [you would have said] "what a great signing," and all those things; he didn't score, but it's not like he's running around and giving the ball away. I thought he and Quincy [Amarikwa] worked well together today; he liked the formation, they were active, they worked well, one underneath, one high. I was pleased with Kennedy's performance; I pulled him before the game...and said, "play with confidence, play like you're starting out again, just go play." Enjoy the moment, don't worry about the outcome, because if you worry about the outcome, you won't play well. But I thought he played well today.”
On the left side's play
“David [Accam] and Shaun [Maroney] are coming back next weekend, and I'll make sure we have the right team to play against Toronto. I thought [Joevin Jones] was outstanding today, to be honest. The first half, I thought his movement was good; he's very good running with the ball, he dips inside, and plays that tucked-in midfielder position very well, but he does get on outside as well and whips in a good ball in. I thought he was good, and Lovel backed him up well. Obviously in the second half we sat back a little, so that's the last thing I'm thinking about, that we couldn't get out from that side, or either side. But they're both experienced players, they have both been around for a while, Joevin is younger, but Lovel's been around this league for a while, and he did a real solid job. Back four was good; they didn't really have too many wake-up chances, they had more mature chances in the second half, but no real wake-up where [Philadelphia] should have scored. So I have to tip my hat to the back four and goalkeeper for that.”
Adailton, Chicago Fire Defender
On getting the shutout
“This is our job. Doesn’t matter if I score, if Jeff scores. It was important to do our job. We’re so happy about this. We got the clean sheet and we have to keep this energy, this enthusiasum and I’m sure that if we keep this, it doesn’t mean that we’re going to win every game but it means that every game is going to be very hard for the opponent, and we will have many chances to get the three points.”
On getting ready for the next match
“Now we have to switch our focus. I have to think about going home and rest to prepare to have a nice and tough week. It’s better to suffer during the week and be fit for the weekend than the other way. We are happy about the week we did during the week. The whole team spoke yesterday that we should do something different. I think we did it. As I said before, if we ask each one of you who was the best player, nobody is going to say the same player so it means everybody did his job and this is the most important thing.”
On the goal
“I’m so excited. It’s so funny because my family arrived on Friday, my son, my wife and my mother-in-law, and before the game I said, ‘today I will score for you,’ I said to my baby. And when I scored, it was such a nice moment I will never forget.
Jeff Larentowicz, Chicago Fire Defender and Captain
On the match
“I thought that we put together a pretty good game, for the majority of it. I thought we were definitely the better team in the first half and rewarded ourselves with the goal and go into halftime with the lead. It’s nice to score the first goal in a game. I think there are a lot of times where we’re fighting back but we scored first, which was good for us and top of that we kept the clean sheet.”
On the play of the backline
“I think for us today it was important to keep pressure on the other team, it was almost like we didn’t want the ball to get to the back line. There were times, where , especially in the first half, where we turned over the ball and were able to get at them right away. I think that’s the key. The best defense is a good offense and if we can attack them higher up the field it will create chances.”
On the partnership on the right side with Eric Gehrig
“Eric has been very good, he’s a player that brings the same intensity whether it’s training or games, and he’s a guy you can count on back there. Him being on my side, we’ve developed a bit of a relationship and an understanding with each other which is important. The more you play together the more you understand each other and it’s going to continue to develop and grow and hopefully we have more of these clean sheets to come.”
