Chicago Fire 1:2 New York Red Bulls
MLS Regular Season
Recap
Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire head coach
On the match in general:
“I think we played a great game. I think we were close. We were very close. We are getting closer, which is very important for us to win points on the road. I think we played against a great team, and we were capable of not only creating problems for them, but to be a better team during most of the time, especially in the second half. Also in the first half we had a lot of opportunities. We are getting better. If we keep the level of play like this, I’m sure that we’re going to win a lot of points on the road.”
On what he saw from his attack:
“I think we did a great, great game plan. It was working perfectly. The commitment of the guys, I’m very proud of. I’m very thankful for this game that we had, because we showed to ourselves that we can play consistently. Yes, we allowed two goals, but we were consistent in our attacking performances and we were creating opportunities. I’m very happy with our guys. We just have to keep improving, working like this, and believing. Guys obviously are frustrated with the result, but what I felt today is different from the past. That’s something that makes me feel very good and very optimistic for the future.”
On his team’s ability to win the ball:
“I think we won a lot of second balls, which is part of the Red Bulls’ game. We won a lot of transitions. We were capable of stopping them in fast attacks and counters also. At the end of the gsame I think we controlled well, especially before we scored the goal. I think we dominated actually. I’m very happy with my team, but I’m not happy with the result obviously.”
On how he was able to break through a Red Bull defense that hadn’t allowed a home goal all season:
“I think we have pace. Not only to take advantage of what they lack, but it’s also what we can do, what we have. We managed well. We have a lot of pace in the attack. We have guys who are very good on the counter, so we were consistent in keeping their defense exposed and challenged with the deep balls behind their back. The flanks are the points that we wanted to exploit. We were close. I think we did well, but…next time.”
On Dax McCarty being named captain:
“I think it was important for him to start as captain. He’s one of the captains. I’m the coach. I decide who I believe is going to help us in that role for each game. In the future it’s going to be the same.”
On Nemanja Nikolic’s performance:
“I think Nemanja did a very good job. He had a lot of opportunities. He scored the goal, which was important for the team, and we just have to keep working like that. If we are capable of playing on this level in the future, I’m not concerned about winning on the road.”
On McCarty’s performance:
“I think he impacted the game. A Lot of challenges he won and duels in the middle of the park, and he assisted on the goal. Consistent play. Very characteristic for him, winning the ball, winning one duel after another, and assisting to Niko. I think it was great.”
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Chicago Fire midfielder
On the team’s movement with the ball:
“I think there was some spaces most of the time on the other side. We didn’t find quick enough the solutions. I think we deserved a little bit more today. We had good chances where we could score a goal.”
On the physicality of the match and how it compares to the Bundesliga:
“Every match is – from a physicality standpoint – very high, intense. A lot of fouls. The Bundesliga there is also a lot of teams who are aggressive, but maybe not so much fouls.”
On Dax McCarty's performance:
“It was a big match, obviously. He did a great job. He has a lot of supporters here and also good relationships to some of the players and to the team.”
On breaking the New York high press:
“We knew that Red Bulls, they are pressing high. They are aggressive. But there are always options and solutions. We tried. I think we had also in the first half a couple situations where we played deep and had some situations where the last pass was maybe not right, otherwise we would have scored a goal.”
On the team’s ability to win on the road:
“Toronto I think is a good team and also the Red Bulls are a good team. I think today we deserved more. As I said, we had very good opportunities to score a goal. The last pass wasn’t good enough. We didn’t use our chances. I think we had more shots. I think the possession – for an away match against the Red Bulls – was good. We need to improve, to control the game more, more passes to find the free man -- today it was on the other side -- a little bit more quicker. Then we can create more.”
On the cut he received on his forehead:
“I just saw a little bit of blood. I know how to handle it.”
On Red Bull Arena:
“It’s a very nice arena. Very nice stadium. The pitch is also great. They did a good job.”
Dax McCarty, Chicago Fire midfielder
On being back in Red Bull Arena:
“It was definitely strange, but very familiar. Saw a lot of great faces, friendly faces that I’ll definitely miss. Obviously the objective of coming back here was to try to get three points and we failed at that. That’s disappointing. I thought we played well enough to get three points. We came in here and created chances, and that’s something that you don’t do often. The Red Bulls hadn’t conceded any goals up to this point this year, and I thought we had plenty of chances when it was 1-1 to go up 2-1 and even in the first half, maybe get 1-0. It was a frustrating night overall because you’re just left wanting more. Overall, obviously a really emotional night being back here. I’m upset we couldn’t get three points.”
On sticking around and signing autographs after the game:
“I needed to do it. The fans that waited for me, it was more than I ever could have imagined. The people here are just good people. Really loyal. The words that they said to me really mean a lot to me. I’ll always remember them and obviously I just wanted to show them how much they meant to me and stick around for anyone that was willing to stay. I would have stayed out here all night and signed autographs and picture if I had to. I appreciate them.”
On his return to New York:
“I think I was really looking forward to it, but I think now that it’s over it’s even more of a relief just to get it over with. Obviously there was a lot of hoopla surrounding the game. A lot of stuff written. A lot of chatter. I think you just have to go out on the field and try to get through it. It’s emotional. Obviously it’s frustrating to not win. That’s the thing that I’m most upset about. You have to stick around and sign all these autographs and you’re really pissed off inside that you didn’t win the game. That’s something that’ll bother me, but we lost to a pretty good game. I thought the performance merited more than a loss. That’s the most frustrating part for me. But overall, being back here, for me it was a good experience.”
On if he saw the highlight video Red Bull had prepared:
“I didn’t get a chance to see too much of it. I saw a little clip here and there. It was a nice gesture, and obviously I appreciate it.”
On the physicality of the game and setting the tone:
“Well, you’ve got to be physical when you play against the Red Bulls That’s their game plan. They want to play fast. They want to play physical. If you don’t match that, you’re in for a long night. I thought we did well to match it, actually. I thought we put them in a tough game. I thought it was a pretty back-and-forth game. Plenty of chances, especially from us. It was always going to be like that. Brad told me to make sure I wore my shin guards, so I did. We got into a few battles, a few tussles. That’s the nature of the business. That’s the game. You’re good friends with those guys, but when you’re on the field you’re competing to win. That’s what happened.”
On his muted celebration after the Fire goal:
“I was very happy we tied the game up. I felt it was deserved. Certainly the celebration was muted because there was 30 minutes left to play and I wanted to win the game. It was just the equalizing goal. It wasn’t like we had won the world Cup or anything. I was just ready to continue to push. It was frustrating conceding that goal I thought it was pretty soft. That’s a disappointment.”
On if his reaction after the Fire goal was in relief:
“Yeah that was. That was like a ‘finally we broke through.’ We got what we deserved. I felt like we were pushing for the equalizer and we deserved to get an equalizer, so that was a relief. Then, you know you’ve got to keep pushing against the Red Bulls because they keep coming. Credit to them. They actually picked up their game a little bit when we scored and we dropped off a little bit. We had plenty of chances to win the game. Plenty of chances to draw the game, and that’s the most frustrating part.”
On the play when he assisted on the Fire’s goal:
“It was kind of a broken play. I think it was a second ball. I won it and I found myself in an advanced position. Even before the play started, I saw Niko was starting to drift out to the left. I knew that I’d beaten one of the centerbacks and the other centerback – I believe it was Damien – was stepping to me, and I just kind of laid it out in space and hoped he was there and it was a great finish by him.”
