QUOTE SHEET
Real Salt Lake 0-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Avaya Stadium; San Jose, California
July 28, 2018
Real Salt Lake
Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez
On how the coaching staff prepared the team:
“We challenged the guys that it’s never easy coming on the road. We know they’re a dangerous team with players that can score and are great at the counter-attack. We felt we handled the counter-attack pretty well. They’re also a team that crosses a lot. I think last week they had 30 services that came into the box and we wanted to be aggressive up against the sideline and try to limit that and I think we did. And we wanted to create off of good defending one or two chances that we could get in the game to put them away. I think we had a point-blank one that we were just a little bit unlucky. But as far as what we wanted from the guys, we would all love the three points, but we still keep on collecting points. We get a zero-against away from home and then create a couple chances and now ready to go back home.”
On getting a shutout on the road but finishing with a tie:
“You’re never satisfied, you always want to collect three points, but zero away against a desperate team – no matter what people say, you look at teams at the bottom of the table, they never play that way. They’re desperate and they’re dangerous and we responded. I thought for long portions of the game we had the ball and other portions we had to make it ugly, so it was just a mixture of phases where we were attacking and defending. But I think what the guys showed today was fight from the beginning to the end, which was great to watch.”
On what it took to get a hard-earned point on the road:
“Just discipline from everyone. You’re going to have to really buckle down and defend and we knew they’re a team that they get a lot of service into the box so that never makes it easy. You have to be aggressive, we did that. We knew we were going to have to deal with some counter-attacks from them, we did that. And we wanted to create a chance or two that we could maybe capitalize on and then sneak out of here with a 1-0. We created a very good chance there with Marcelo [Silva], Becks [Kyle Beckerman] giving a great back-post ball – we knew if we were going to serve the ball it had to be to the back post. We did and the goalie made a very good save. And we leave here with 0-0 and collect another point.”
Forward Corey Baird
On playing in San Jose in front of friends and family after starring at Stanford:
“I think it just kind of gets back to when I was playing soccer when I was younger and it’s family and friends watching you rather than 10,000 people. It was a homey feeling, so it’s good to get back in the Bay.”
On what it took to get the shutout and a road point:
“I think we did a good job defending as a team and when they were putting some pressure on late, I think we adapted the way we were pressing them, sat off a little bit, just trying to make it harder for them to penetrate. But at the same time, saying we got it done with a point is good considering our road form, but I think this was a game that we wanted to come out with three points, so I think everyone is still a little disappointed.”
On whether the team can use the game as a building block:
“It’s definitely a positive coming in and having a shutout on the road, because I know we’ve had games where we played well and then one goal goes in, one mistake, and the floodgates open. So I think it was good from the back four, holding midfielders in front of them and the wingers helping defend and just making it difficult for them and making sure that those floodgates don’t open and that we’re a tough team to break down even though we’re on the road.”
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman
On the match:
“It was just one of those games. San Jose is getting desperate so we knew they were going to bring everything they had and they weren’t going to let it be easy no matter where they are in the standings. We made sure we were focused. We felt like if we could get a shutout that we would eventually get a goal. It didn’t come tonight, but there were a lot of good things. I’m really proud of the guys and it was a step in the right direction on the road.”
On the importance earning a point on the road:
“If we want to play in the playoffs, we’re going to have to get results on the road. This was a big step for a lot of the young guys. We haven’t won that many or tied on the road, so this will give them a lot of confidence and give our whole team, in general, confidence going forward on the road.”
On the resilience after losing Albert Rusnák:
“It’s huge. To have those guys that are on the bench to be ready, it’s a huge credit to Damir. It’s not easy. You’re thinking in your mind you’re not going to play in the first half. And to not only be ready, but to come and continue moving along was huge for us. We’re going to need it from everyone and hopefully this is just the start of good things to come on the road.”
San Jose Earthquakes
Head Coach Mikael Stahre
On the match:
“I think we were a little bit better, but I agree it was an equal game. Actually, from my perspective, it was one of the best performances for this season. I think we defended quite compact and solid, and we created enough chances to win this game. Of course, I can’t be happy with a tie at home, but I’m quite pleased with the performance in general.”
On the starting XI:
“We played home here on Wednesday and we also had the friendly against Manchester United on Sunday. I think it’s really important to have fresh legs and energy and that’s why it was important for me to keep the old squad alive. I think all of them today did well.”
On the support of the San Jose Ultras:
“They provided a terrific atmosphere for us tonight. You can tell the players had a bit more energy because they knew the Ultras were behind them. The whole team appreciates what they do.”
Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell
On the clean sheet:
“We are happy to finally get the monkey off our backs and get a clean sheet. The whole team worked hard defensively, we are just disappointed that we couldn’t score and win.”
On serving as the team captain:
“Wondo [Chris Wondolowski] didn’t get the start, so I got to wear the armband. I’m proud to represent the club and do everything I can to help the team. I needed to be a vocal leader today, and I was happy to do it.”
On building on the result:
“Hopefully it will give us confidence that we can do it. We just need to keep believing in ourselves. There’s not a lot of people out there believing in us now. We know what we can do, and we’ve got to perform. Tonight, defensively, we did.”
Forward Chris Wondolowski
On how he feels about the last four results:
“It’s definitely tough. You know, it’s good to get a shutout. I think defensively Tarbell had a great game; huge saves. I thought our defense played really well as well.”
On the shutout:
“I think it’s kind of that elephant in the room. We all know it. We’ve talked about it. It’s nice to get. It’s a stepping stone.”
On the improvement in the defensive end:
“It’s always that balance. When you attack, you leave yourself vulnerable defensively and vice versa. If you really concentrate on defense, you’re vulnerable on the attack so it’s always a game to find that balance and we have to do a better job of finding it.”
