Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar
On FW Alvaro Saborio scoring seconds after entering the game:
“We saw the fastest red card last night in the L.A.-Colorado game and I think this might be the fastest goal going in. Fantastic service by Javier [Morales]. Aggressive run and fantastic finish by Sabo. It’s an area that we’ve been concentrating a little bit on with our coaching staff, and hats off to the players for executing it.”
On FW Robbie Findley scoring his first goal of the year:
“He’s been sniffing around it now. This was arguably one of his best weeks of training – scoring a lot in practice, which is great. I thought him and Olmes [Garcia] really worked hard, the first half especially. We wore them down and that allows us to make a move and bring somebody on to finish it out.”
On depth at forward:
“It’s going to make my life a little bit more difficult with the decisions, but whatever decision we come up with we know it’s always going to be best for the team. It’s going to be challenging but it’s a good challenge. There’s no let down ever. Once we move one player out and bring somebody on, it’s becoming relentless. That keeps teams pinned back, that keeps them honest, so they can’t move up the field, and it’s going to be nice to be able to move a player out and bring somebody on that’s just going to be as productive.”
On the importance of claiming three points for the Supporters’ Shield race:
“It’s huge, obviously. The Supporters’ Shield is going to happen by us taking care of business. We have a huge game coming up against Seattle. I think if we get a really good result there we can start putting ourselves into the mix for that. But I really want to keep these guys focused on one game at a time, taking care of business, and not trying to look too far ahead.”
On bringing in Alvaro Saborio and MF Luis Gil in the 76th minute:
“We felt that it was something that needed to be done. Especially at that time of the game and especially for our fans. It brought an energy to the stadium and brought a buzz and got everyone back into the game. After [FC Dallas] scored there was a little bit of a lull. We wanted to reenergize everyone, not just our team, but the fans as well. With that being energizing to our team, that’s got to be deflating to the other team, realizing that they have this coming onto the field to make an impact. That’s the beauty of RSL. Garth [Lagerwey] has put together a team that is deep, picking up Sebastian [Jaime] only makes us deeper in this run, hopefully to the MLS Cup.”
On giving up the equalizing goal but coming back to score:
“We talk about it all the time. There are a few ways FC Dallas can score. Obviously, it’s a counterattack in dead ball situation. Michel has got a fantastic left foot on him. Obviously, saw something there that he had an opening, but the strike was fantastic. It was moving and dipping and going away from Nick [Rimando]. What we have to do is be better before that play to stop that and not allowing them to have a free kick. I thought for 99.9 percent of the game we did a fantastic job. The reaction was first class. No one hit the panic button. It shows that we have a really smart, solid, confident team.”
On the decision to play Saborio:
“It was a game that we wanted three points in. They were clogging the middle of the field on us with their formation, making it hard to break them down. So what can you do – maybe it’s service from the outside, maybe it’s a set play. Again, it’s bringing on a player who commands respect immediately when he steps on the field, so if they can zero in on him maybe that allows somebody else to be more productive, and he did that.”
On playing newly signed FW Sebastian Jaime:
“It was good. We’ve been doing a lot of small-sided games in practice where the field isn’t a full field. We played a little 10v10 the other day, but it’s good to see him on the big field. He’s an extremely intelligent player, he makes great runs. I think when he has more space to operate in he’s going to be more effective. It seemed like him and Sabo [Saborio] had a nice relationship in a brief time, and that’s promising.”
Real Salt Lake FW Robbie Findley
Thoughts on ending his year-long scoring drought:
“It definitely felt good. Just like you said, it’s been tough coming back from the surgery in December. Been working hard and staying at it. A couple of weeks I hit the post, and the crossbar another weekend, so it was coming. I’m trying to stay positive. Thankfully enough it fell into my feet. I just tried to focus on taking a good touch and putting it in there.”
Thoughts on the return of Alvaro Saborio:
“I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s definitely good for him and his confidence coming back from his injury as well. But it lifted the team I think. When you come on as a sub, you want to ignite a little spark and he did that. Now we’re onto the next one.”
Thoughts on a healthy RSL:
“Every team goes through that throughout the year. It’s just a matter of peaking at the right time. Just like you said, everybody is getting healthy and coming back, so it’s the right time and we still have some work to do.”
Real Salt Lake MF Javier Morales
Thoughts on the return of Alvaro Saborio:
“When he came in, I went to do the corner kick. It was on my mind you know. That guy is going to score now? And then I send the ball. It’s kind of funny. I am happy for him because I think he deserved the goal. It’s always better when Sabo is in the box. I know that is where in the box he likes it. I try to put the ball there but it’s all about him – he finds the ball there. I think he scored a great goal.”
Thoughts on being within reach of the supporters’ shield:
“It’s always good to be there you know. Now we have another opportunity to go a little bit higher on the top. Playing Seattle in their house is going to be huge for us if we beat them.”
Real Salt Lake FW Alvaro Saborio
On his goal:
“Yeah it was unbelievable. I have never felt this feeling before so I am very happy because I have been injured for a long time, and now I can help the team with goals.”
On the play of Sebastian Jaime and Robbie Findley:
“I think they did a very good job today, Sebastian [Jaime] and Robbie [Findley]. It’s nice for [Robbie] to open his scoring and now we have to continue like that. I think we played very well today and we have to be focused and take care of Seattle.”
On how his injury is feeling:
“Good, good. I just try to make it stronger every day, play more games, and try to be fit as soon as possible.”
FC Dallas
FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Overall thoughts on the game:
“It was a good game. Good for both teams. The first half was good for Salt Lake. They created some good chances and then the second half was totally for us. Very unfortunate, well maybe not unfortunate, but a play where we lost our marks and we gave away some points.”
On the changes from the first to the second:
“Well we played much better. We were more aggressive. I think that our other forward helped us. We gained a lot more confidence with ourselves in the second half for sure.”
On the impact of FCD FW Tesho Akindele:
“He did a great job. I still think that all the guys that played in the first half put in a lot of effort and energy. But Tesho did help us a lot. Fabian [Castillo] had someone to help him out up there with things going forward. The team found a much better rhythm for sure.”
On what FCD MF Michel brings to the team:
“Michel brings some very special things. He scores goals, his set pieces help us a lot. But I would have to say that his tactical approach to the game pays dividends for us. I was very happy to have him back today. At the same time, I love this team more when things aren’t going our way. I can say that today they put all of their heart into this game.”
FC Dallas GK Raul Fernandez:
On the defensive effort from FC Dallas:
“They really only took advantage of one bad clearance from us. They were a little lucky with some bounces that went their way but they were able to capitalize on those few key moments.”
On taking control of the second half:
“After we tied the game, we had a lot more confidence. Salt Lake was able to find that second goal on a very well worked play. We really wanted to rescue that game but, in the end, we couldn’t find a way to do it.”
