Carson, California FIFA Friendly match: United States 2-0 Panama:
Players react after the game:
U.S. MNT captain CLINT DEMPSEY
On the positive result of the game:
“It’s important for us to get back to winning ways. It’s even better that we got a clean sheet and ended the camp on a good note. We’ve been putting in a lot of work and it was a good first win for 2015. Now we have to build towards the Gold Cup in the summer.”
On the performance of Gyasi Zardes:
“He works hard all the time. He got sharper as camp went on, and when he got his opportunities he made the most of them. Today he made a big impact for us. He is a kid that has a great future.”
On his goal scoring play that was assisted by Zardes:
“He did a good job of running at the defense, and I was trying to create space for him by running the opposite direction. I tried to make a run into space to see if he could find me. Credit to him, he got his head up and played a perfect ball. It was really him who created the goal.
On the fluidity of the team against Panama:
“I just think that we’re starting to get sharper and fit. I think that when we needed to we were able to find the right pass and create problems for them. I thought Mix and Michael broke up plays and moved the ball well. At the same time, I thought Miguel [Ibarra] and Gyasi gave us width and also with their movements, created problems for us and created space for us up top. I think that’s what led to the second goal.”
U.S. MNT midfielder GYASI ZARDES
On his performance on home soil and in front of his hometown of Los Angeles:
“It’s a big dream to play in my home stadium, but to play in my hometown, in front of friends, in front of my family who had been there with me the whole time and have seen me grow is a dream come true. I’m just thankful Jurgen gave me the opportunity to perform on the field.”
On his play that led to Clint Dempsey’s goal:
“When I got the ball I countered. I saw open space so I ran into it and I saw Clint making an amazing run to goal. I had to feed him the ball and sure enough he put it away.”
On adjusting to his new role with the team:
“When they call you into this camp, they like something about you so there’s no need to be nervous. All you can do is open up your ears and learn more, pay attention to their feedback and listen to what they tell you. They’ve been around the game for ages and have accomplished a lot of things so they know what they are talking about. All you have to do is be humble enough to listen to what they’re saying and you’ll be good.”
U.S. MNT forward CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On the significance of National Team camps like the January camp:
“It’s an experience where you get to develop over a month, especially with some great coaches. That’s the experience you have to get out of this, try to get better day in and day out and we had four weeks to accomplish that.”
On the NASL producing players for the National Team:
‘It’s a great thing. Miguel Ibarra is a wonderful player and it shows where the league is and I think it’s going to continue developing and it’s going to make American soccer better.”
