CONCACAF Qualifiers Day 1:
Honduras 2-1 USA
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN
On the team’s loss against Honduras:
“Congratulations to Honduras for a very good game from their side and for an amazing goal. The equalizer will probably be remembered for a long, long time. Obviously it wasn’t as good as we wanted today. We made too many mistakes in too many areas, tactically in certain ways, individual and collective mistakes. We gave too many opportunities to this Honduras team and they took advantage of it.”
On moving forward after the loss:
“It’s not what we wanted. We wanted to start with a positive result. We have to fix that right away now against Costa Rica in March. But we knew it would be really difficult. Both teams play on the same field and there are no excuses. When you lose a game there are reasons for it and the reasons today were too many players performed under their level.”
U.S. Men’s National Team forward CLINT DEMPSEY
On the loss against Honduras and the tough conditions:
“It was difficult game and we knew it was always going to be tough, especially dealing with the conditions. Most of us are playing in Europe and we come here and it’s over 90 degrees at a 3:00. Both teams have to deal with those conditions but it’s difficult because you can’t press and run and have the endurance that you would have in other games. It was frustrating trying to adapt and play but you have to keep going.”
U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder MICHAEL BRADLEY
On the loss and the long road to qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
“It’s not the way we wanted to start but it’s a long road. Nobody on our end expects to go 10-0-0 and that’s the reality. There are six good teams, tough stadiums to play in and tough atmospheres. We have to continue to keep a strong mentality, continue to have the confidence and continue to believe that over ten games our quality will come out and that mentality will ride us through. When you’re playing in a situation like this where points are on the line you never want to start with zero, but you can’t panic. There are nine more games to go, we get a home game next and we have to look at things, improve things and know that the three points in the next game are crucial.”nn reacts:
On the team’s loss against Honduras:
“Congratulations to Honduras for a very good game from their side and for an amazing goal. The equalizer will probably be remembered for a long, long time. Obviously it wasn’t as good as we wanted today. We made too many mistakes in too many areas, tactically in certain ways, individual and collective mistakes. We gave too many opportunities to this Honduras team and they took advantage of it.”
On moving forward after the loss:
“It’s not what we wanted. We wanted to start with a positive result. We have to fix that right away now against Costa Rica in March. But we knew it would be really difficult. Both teams play on the same field and there are no excuses. When you lose a game there are reasons for it and the reasons today were too many players performed under their level.”
