Quote Sheet
Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo
BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas – July 27, 2013
Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire Head Coach
Thoughts on the match
“We talked about our ability now in this stretch and to be able to get points on the road. You’re playing against a very good team, difficult place, it’s not easy here, but in the second half I felt that both teams, we had some chances, but I felt also late in the game both teams had some quality looks. The goalkeepers came out big. For us, I think, on the road, we showed a lot of character, but also, from our keeper Paolo [Tornaghi], he needed those saves to come up big and he did, but also I though Tally did too with some of the chances we had.”
What has sparked the change within the team
“Definitely different confidence within the team. I think the mentality is different, the start was definitely tough for us. Losing Arne Friedrich right before our first game wasn’t easy, so I needed a guy to replace. I feel that with additions of Mike Magee and [Bakary Soumaré] and the results we’ve gotten, it’s a different mentality within the group. There is a lot of confidence, so it’s a tough stretch for us right now, I mean second half of the season, you’re playing a lot of teams within your own conference and it’s going to be tight. There is so much parity within the league, I think what we didn’t do in the first half of the season we have to do much better the second half on the road, pick up points and win at home. This was a good start and we have to regroup now. We have a tough away game against Philadelphia next week, so it doesn’t get any easier.”
On the impact of Mike Magee
“He’s got a lot of quality and he’s a smart player, but he does a lot of little things also besides scoring that help the team out. He’s been fantastic for us, so has [Bakary Soumaré]. I just think as a team we’re in a different place right now and we have a lot to play for. Both of those additions have been big, but I think everyone else has stepped up and I think we have everyone healthy right now and I think that is a positive thing for the team.”
Update on the injury to Alex
“He got a knock, it happened in the game on the ankle, he came out. He was having a good game in the middle, but listen it’s all about the team and things like that happen and guys have to be able to get in the game and help and that’s what a team is for. You have to rely on everyone and the guys that came in Danny [Paladini] and Logan [Pause] came in and I felt left it all on the field, and that’s what you want and ask for.”
Paolo Tornaghi, Chicago Fire Goalkeeper
Thoughts on the match
“It’s good for us coming here. I think the environment here is very difficult to play [in], so we are happy. All the statistics say that [Houston] is tough and we did our best and we are going home with a point.”
Game plan coming into the match
“Well we knew that this team is very strong in statistics and putting [the ball in] the box and try to win the first, the second, the third ball. I think to challenge, to fight, and it’s what we tried to do and I think we did well, so that’s why we had the goal and a good game.”
Importance of this match in the standings
“It’s a crucial moment of the season. We have to come back from another positive position in the standings, so we have to keep going and maybe in one month, be in the right spot that we have to be in the playoffs.”
Mike Magee, Chicago Fire Forward
Thoughts on the match
“It’s huge, especially playing in Houston, which is close to impossible to get any points in and in the fashion that we did it, I thought was pretty good. We obviously give up a goal again, but to fight back and even get a chance or two to get the win, that is a great point.”
Getting the equalizer so quickly
“It is always important to get the equalizer. It is good to get it quick because they’re a team that tends to, you know, once they get one, they start pounding on you. They’re not a team that scores one and sits back, so it had the potential to be a very long end of the game, so to get the one back quick is massive.”
Importance of the result going forward
“It’s just we’re hard to beat. No matter what happens it’s a big step for us. We have been kind of looking for a result like this. We have beaten some teams that aren’t in the playoff hunt and we lost to Kansas City, we barely tie Portland, so to come into Houston and get a point like this is definitely a statement.”
Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear
Thoughts on the match
“A little bit of a frustrating night. Scored a great goal then gave up a softie and then we had some chances to go back ahead and it didn’t happen. [We were] looking at three [points], we get one, but I can’t fault the guys’ effort.”
The importance of this match
“This game was important. I say this time and time again, but maybe people don’t take me seriously: every game for me is a big game. I don’t have to say ‘well this is a big game because of this, because of that.’ All these underlying themes and goals; the main goal will always be to win the game. I know what New England did tonight, I know what the other teams did, I know where we’re at we have game in hand, et cetera. You want to win three points no matter if it’s home, if it’s Columbus, or New England or even tonight against Chicago. The aim is always to get three [points]. We want to be higher than where we are in the conference and we know it’s going to take wins to do that.”
On Cam Weaver’s performance
“I thought he was good. I thought he was due for a goal. He’s had his chances along the way, and I’m sure he’s frustrated at times but he was a big part of what we were trying to do tonight. We were trying to get some balls wide, get balls in the box, and I think he had clear off the line in a corner kick. He had a kick in the first half….held the ball well for us, put himself in the right spot for his goal. Happy for him. He works hard everyday. I think he works on his finishing. He wants to be on the field. He wants to make a positive impact, and tonight I’m happy for him.”
On the physicality of the match
“I just think there was a lot of stoppages. I mean they never really got a good flow in the first-half. Obviously as the game got tied, there was time wasting as we’ve seen before and it slows the game down. But, what can you do? I didn’t think it was overly physical, I thought. I think every game is physical. I don’t think any game in MLS is over the top. I don’t think any team comes out and is dirty. I think teams try and play the right way, try to play physical. It was just two teams tonight. So, just pretty much a standard game for me.”
Houston Dynamo forward Cam Weaver
Thoughts on the match
“Disappointed with only getting one point, I think we the amount of chances we had we definitely should be getting three points. That’s the way I feel right now.”
On getting the goal
“I think it’s been a while, so I’m definitely happy to get that goal. I had a few chances tonight, and I happened to get one. It would’ve been a lot nicer in a victory, but hopefully that’s one of more to come.”
Houston Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell
Thoughts on the match
“It was frustrating. You work so hard to get a goal and then you kind of give up a softie. We just didn’t finish a lot of our other chances. We had one called back that probably shouldn’t have been, but sometimes that’s how your night goes. I mean nothing really goes your way, so good for Cam, happy for him, he’s worked so hard to get to where he is and for him to score hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.”
On their place in the standings
“We were aware coming into the game what was going on. We always kind of look at it throughout the year. I’ve said it from the beginning, last year was just a matter of one point, I think. So, we understand that. It just went against us last night. From the game Wednesday, to the field, to the refs on one call, to us shooting ourselves in the foot, so a lot to be learned, a lot from ourselves on the field and some of our guys off the field too you know. But, like I said it comes down to the guys on the field getting the job done. I mentioned all those other things, but at the end of the day it comes down to the eleven guys that are out there playing. We had our chances. A tie is not the worst thing, but obviously we wanted a win. But, we can’t really harp on it too much. We’re going to look at what we did on the goal and talk about some communication issues, but we’ve got to get ready for Columbus now.”
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall
Thoughts on the match
“Obviously fairly disappointed. It’s a game we should win. It’s a game we can win. Obviously to give up a goal right after you score one, I think it comes down to a mental lapse, and we need to do a better job defensively of holding onto the lead. And it starts once they kick the ball off and it didn’t take them long to get an equalizer. So, it’s very disappointing to us.
I don’t think anything was going against us that doesn’t happen in any other game. Fouls go both ways and maybe it’s offside, maybe it’s onside, it doesn’t matter. Those things happen every single game.”
