Postmatch Quotes
Chicago Fire 2:2 Columbus Crew SC
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 • Toyota Park
Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On the mentality heading into the last two games of the season
"What I think is that we have one more game left at home, and I just said that to the guys in the locker room. We just have three days left to prepare for the game on Sunday, recover, and do everything to win that game. This year, the people who come, our crowd, our supporters, they suffered too much and we have to give that last game everything we have to win the game. I think that's very important."
Overall thoughts on the team
"I think we all know where we are at. I think we could see improvements in our team and things that we still have to get better. And I think that has been, the whole year, the same process, the same things to do, to improve. Still long way to go."
On Columbus' late equalizer
"Yes, we failed. We failed to close, to win the game. Disappointed? Well, yes. You're disappointed when you don't win. Of course. But, as we always say, we look forward to improving things and the most important thing is the next game. As I said before, it doesn't matter what I think about this game because it's done. It has been too many times we've been through this. Now it only matters the next game and I want to see our guys working hard and giving our best to win the game. That's all I want for the next game. Win the game and we have to do everything to do it. And again, we always said, it's a process that's all still there. Process and everything, we said. We need this game, we've got to win it for our fans because the people are supporting us during the whole year. We appreciate that. Next game we have got to win."
On facing a team in the Revolution who are looking for a playoff spot
"We have got to win our game. That's it. We respect everyone. Everyone has their own goals. Columbus had their own goals. New England has their own goals. They will approach things the way we can't control. We only control what we can do."
Arturo Alvarez, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On the tactical benefits of David Arshakyan
"Arshakyan brings a different dimension to the game. He's a big guy, a big presence on the field. But I think in the first half, we had some looks as well, unfortunately, it didn't go our way. It was a good tactical shape, we made sure that we took advantage of the size, and it opened up a little bit of space for the open guys on the wings."
Matt Polster, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On the draw
"I think with two home games left in the season, to not get a win in the first of the two to end the season is a little bit disappointing, just to give our fans something and to finish the season off strong. At the end, I thought we really pushed forward and tried to get all three points. Pauno addressed us after the game saying that it was disappointing not to get a win for the fans today and for us. I think we need to move past it and try to get three points on Sunday against New England."
On the second half
"I think we were trying to exploit them and try to play forward a little bit quicker. Once we got it wide and we found a little more space, we were able to get it to Arturo, he was able to cut in and slip players in, which was opening up Columbus a little bit. That was playing positively for us, we were finding good spaces, we were getting in behind, and Arturo had a couple shots on goal."
