Veljko Paunović – Head Coach, Chicago Fire
On the game:
“It's painful because I think the majority of the time we controlled the game, not always with the ball, but we controlled in our defensive shape sometimes. All the effort and the matchups we had on the different positions on the field were great. I think huge, huge performance from the team and it hurts a lot when you, obviously, drop two points this way but it happens and that's part of the game. We'll keep learning from our mistakes and I hope it will get to the point where we'll learn from others’ mistakes, our opponent's mistakes. We still have to grow. We're still young in terms of committing mistakes and we'll get better. I think it's a process.”
On the impact of Dax McCarty and Luis Solignac:
“It's very important for the team that Dax and Lucho are back and I think they did great. We're managing minutes for both of them and all the guys who are coming back from injuries. It was very helpful to see Dax's leadership on the field and also helping Basti in that role and the organization of the play and overall very important his presence on the field for us. On the other side, Lucho is still rusty and still needs to find the sharp finishing in the final third and he gets to the right spots in great opportunities. We need him to get back to his level where he was at some point last season and I think it's going to come soon.”
On the status of Nemanja Nikolić:
“He needed to be intervened by our medical staff and we were waiting for that situation to be solved. But, unfortunately, it took too long and the team was suffering too much and we had to make the decision to make a substitution. We asked if he had some symptoms of concussions which could happen. It doesn't look like it. It's mild but we'll see where we stand tomorrow and we hope he'll be ready for Colorado and get some minutes there.”
On resolving the issues from the San Jose game:
“I think it was resolved in our meeting. It was very clear after the game and we spoke about it and I made it very clear that's not the way that we should play. Winning or losing, that was two opposite images of the team. The one in Philly when we lost but we played until the end and then when we were winning 2-1 at home and we didn't play after 65-70 minutes. We just wanted the game to finish and we didn't compete and that's something a professional can't do and not especially a team that I coach. I think that's solved. I'm so happy with the performance, with the guys, and I think they showed in these circumstances with the goal we conceded, it was tough to swallow but the guys fought back. Everyone was just a little bit frustrated in that moment but we still tried to get back and win the game. Right now I'm really pleased with the performance of the team and I just want to be more consistent with that attitude and that performance that we're kind of building still. But that's what we need. We cannot drop back and we cannot repeat bad performances. Mistakes and the losses we had in the past, they serve for the purpose of learning. That's perfect but we cannot repeat bad performances and today it wasn't the case. I think today the team competed well and in the end we were a good team and we're trying hard again.”
On Richard Sánchez and the Revolution’s equalizer:
“I think what is singled out is that, once again, we lost a great opportunity and today we can say it was his case but in other games others have failed. Errors are a part of this game and, unfortunately, when they occur and are decisive, they hurt more. This is the life of a goalie as well. He's the last man that can fail and we understand that perfectly. We need to keep learning and maturing. But no one blames Richard. No one is going to point the finger at him. This is a part of soccer and I think what we've made clear here is when we fail, we correct it but when there is not a good attitude this is what we can't allow and that's not the case here.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – Midfielder, Chicago Fire
On his goal:
"It was a good combination with Aleksandar Katai, we used space which we had. It was a good moment to be one up."
If there’s frustration regarding the result:
"Let's say it this way, it was not an easy match to play. They're very, very physical, you could see that after ten seconds. It's not easy to play against them. I think we did a good job of fighting against them, the effort was there. Obviously, we wanted to win, but we could not win the game so we are not 100 percent happy. We had some chances to score a second goal, but we will keep going step-by-step, trying to improve, and that's what we should do."
On having Dax McCarty back in the starting lineup:
"If you have Dax McCarty back in the team, it's always an advantage when our captain is on the field. But the guys, when he was injured, stepped in, like Brandt Bronico or Mo Adams, they did really, really well. But I'm personally, of course, very happy to see Dax in the midfield. You know Dax McCarty, he understands the game. He is very experienced, he is a very good player in my eyes and you can see in every second of the game how important he is to us."
Kevin Ellis – Defender, Chicago Fire
On the match:
"At the end of the day, we would have loved to have two more points than we have right now, but we showed that we can fight, we can battle with a physical team and that's a positive. At the end of the day, we have a point, that's a positive as well to move on. We have to play another game on Wednesday in Colorado so we have to take what got here and move on and look forward to get three points on the road in Colorado."
On adjusting to New England's game plan:
"We did exactly what we wanted to do. When it was time to play, we played. I think our goal showed that; it was a good team play and a good finish from Bastian in the end. At times when it wasn't on, we played long, we picked up second balls, we created chances and guys were getting in behind. Overall, the game, you take a lot of positives away. Like I said, move on and get ready for the game midweek."
On the busy schedule:
"We're good. I always say, when you're not playing games, you complain because you want to play games and when you play a lot of games, guys say 'why are we playing so many games?' Everybody here is enjoying it and enjoying playing more games than training, that's always more fun. It's good, it's coming to an end and we want to end on a high note."
