MLS day 34: Decision Day sends four more teams to 2016 MLS Playoffs
Seattle Sounders, Sporting KC, Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union booked their spot to the MLS Playoffs in the season finale on Sunday. We collected some of the best quotes from the exciting MLS finale, the first time all teams played their final game at the same time:
Seattle Sounders interim coach Schmetzer: “I personally think that the guys in that locker room deserved more than just us to fail this year. I think the fans deserved more. You add to that the expectations of this club are to make the playoffs, to win games, to win championships. Those are the expectations and we live with those. That’s the message those guys have heard from day one.”
“It feels good to overcome certain odds, of course. It feels good to silence those who left what they would have called a sinking ship midway through the season.
Sporting KC coach Vermes: “Our biggest thing was what we don’t want to have are these aberrations where one year we are winning and the next year we are last place in the League. We want to continue to be competitive. We want to continue to do well and always put ourselves in a position to compete for MLS Cup.
Our first goal is making the MLS Playoffs and we have done that now six years in a row. I go back to giving credit to the effort and the guys’ commitment to getting in. We realize we have a big hurdle in regards to Seattle. They are a good team. They made a lot of changes at the midway point that have changed their team.”
Real Salt Lake coach Cassar: “We’re in the playoffs for our body of work that we’ve done throughout the year, not what we’ve done in the last four games,” Cassar told reporters after the game. “We should be proud of where we’re at. Now it’s about rest, recovery and getting ready for LA.”
Philadelphia Union coach Curtin: “I know we have a very good team, a very dangerous team that matches up well against the rest of the Eastern Conference. It’s a place where we know they have a lot of talent. It’ll be a difficult task — but one where our goal now is to go on the road and get out fans a home game. We’re away in Toronto, I’m sure they’re going to bring their great crowd, great fans, so it’s going to be a hostile environment. Hopefully everybody gets their head on their shoulders and pulls their socks up and is in there for the battle
With the season in the books, here is what is coming in this week schedule for you not to miss:
Eastern Conference
Knockout Round Bye: #1 New York Red Bulls, #2 New York City FC
Knockout Round Matches:
- #3 Toronto FC vs. #6 Philadelphia Union
- #4 D.C. United vs. #5 Montreal Impact
Western Conference
Knockout Round Bye: #1 FC Dallas, #2 Colorado Rapids
Knockout Round Matches:
- #3 LA Galaxy vs. #6 Real Salt Lake
- #4 Seattle Sounders vs. #5 Sporting Kansas City
