MLS: New York City FC 2-1 Philadelphia Union
Head Coach NYCFC Jason Kreis
On this being the first victory in awhile
Obviously I’m really pleased with the guys efforts and the result. It’s like a breath of fresh air around here and I hope that these points will mean something to our confidence level because I feel like we’ve really had some guys that have struggled with confidence for a few weeks now so, those are the positives but we still have a long way to improve and I think that everyone on the locker room here knows it, so we’ll get back to work pretty quickly this week.
On how they can continue to build off of this
We just, look at it for what it is, a really important three points. It’s great to get a win away, great to finally get some points that I feel like we’ve deserved for a long time, but we need to keep our feet on the ground and as I said before, we must recognize, we must look ourselves in the mirror and know that we still have a long way to go.
On the new players in the lineup
I think it’s always difficult for guys to step into the starting lineup when they haven’t been there for quite some time. Actually, both [Thomas McNamara and Kwadwo Poku haven’t started for us yet. I think it’s difficult, you could see that they looked a little bit leggy in the first half and both of them looked really fatigued at the end of the first half. We got them in here and got them a little bit of a break but I do think that they still, they like everybody else, there is lots of room for improvement.
Forward Patrick Mullins
On the team’s first win in a while and what it means
I think it’s important , obviously, to pay off some of the performances we’ve had where we’ve deserved it. I thought we gave ourselves a really good chance to get something from the game, and sometimes it’s about plays in the first ten minutes of the half and the last ten minutes, and that’s what it came down to. I think we’re happiest for the fans, the loyalty, the passion, the drive they’ve showed for us has been great.
On how much the win helps his confidence and the team’s confidence
It’s huge Not only is it three points, its three points on the road and in this league it not easy to do. I think it’s a big morale boost and hopefully we can put together some nice performances and be able to get points.
Coach Philadephia Union head coach Jim Curtin
Opening Statement
After a run of good performances, this was a good game but one where we’re disappointed to leave with no points. It’s an empty feeling right for the guys but I think we pushed the game well and had good moments. We got the goal to start the first half. I just looked at the stats and I think we had 31 crosses which shows the quality of the final ball was lacking a bit. Whether the timing of our runs was a little off or our service let us down. We were never able to take a real stranglehold of the game. I thought even at 1-1 we pushed the game a ton. Pfeffer came in and got a couple of chances, a couple looks, and gave us some great energy. Unfortunate that we weren’t able to preserve the lead and give up the second goal.
On his substitutions
I thought the guys that came in did a good job and that the guys on the field were doing a good job. At that stage of the game when it was 1-1 we had a ton of chances to get the second goal and retake the lead. I thought that the guys on the field were doing a very good job. When we went down we didn’t have another striker on the bench so we had to juggle some things. Again, had a lot of crosses, had a lot of opportunities but just couldn’t get the second goal today.
On Andrew Wenger’s performance
I thought last game he had a very good game and he had some moments where he was ok tonight. But sometimes on his runs he’s in there (the box) a little too early and sometimes he’s not so again trying to find the balance, get on the ball, and get in some good spots. We hoped to have him take on (Jeb) Brovsky a few more times one on one and get isolated. He’s frustrated, he wants to get a goal and get going but it’s taking him some time. But again, he’s still got a lot in him and he’s a guy who gives a lot of good effort defensively and contributes a lot offensively as well.
On NYCFC’s 1st goal
It was a turnover at midfield where he picked it up 45-50 yards from goal, started to run with it and at a certain point you need to step up. McNamara hits a great shot in the end but at the same time we talked about playing a team whose backs where against the wall in the same way that we were three weeks ago. You know we were going to get a lot of fight and a lot of effort and to New York’s credit they put a lot into the game. McNamara makes a great play and the second goal is a deflection off a throw in where they turn us in the box and it’s a little unfortunate deflection. I’m disappointed for our guys. There were a lot of great performances and Brian Carroll played one of the best games I’ve seen him play. I thought he was excellent for us. Vince was very good. A lot of guys had very good nights but it doesn’t add up to points so it all feels like a waste.
