QUOTE SHEET
REAL SALT LAKE 1-0 FC DALLAS
RIO TINTO STADIUM; AUGUST 20, 2016
Real Salt Lake
Head Coach Jeff Cassar
On Jamison Olave’s goal and his performance:
“He’s stepping up. He’s really been stepping up now for quite some time, and it was even before he was actually getting on the field. He had been doing extremely well in training sessions and obviously with Aaron [Maund] going down and everything you have an experienced player stepping up and realizing that he’s got to take control of the situation and I think he’s done a great job. I think he’s partnering with Justin [Glad] very well and mentoring him, and that’s important. I thought our back line and our back six and in fact our entire team did a really good job of recognizing FC Dallas’ dangers before they happened.”
On the pressure in the midfield and playing quick in the midfield:
“That’s exactly what we spoke about at halftime. We went with the positive, the confident approach that if guys were good on the ball and moved in good positions in the midfield, we could get at them. Obviously Dallas is a fantastic team and put themselves in great defensive positions, but we saw a few areas that we could get at them, possibly between some of their lines. If our movement was good and we were good on the ball we were going to be able to do it. Obviously, if we were poor on the ball it could set them off on a counter attack. Tonight we were pretty darn good on the ball. A couple times not so good, but our back line was really proactive and were sniffing out dangers when it happened early. But I really liked some of the movement we had to break them down.”
On what the win does to start off a long home stand:
“I think it can only gain our confidence. We spoke about FC Dallas’ mentality. They play like their coach. They’re very aggressive, they’re very organized, they play with passion and heart and even on a night where we did a pretty good job defensively on them, it still was just 1-0. I think our team showed what they’re made of. How our character is strong, how there were times when it wasn’t great but we buckled down and then just kept pushing and pushing. We spoke yesterday just about protecting our house and making it a fortress, and right now we’re (7-0-5) and undefeated and that’s what kind of character we’ve had since the beginning of the year and I just love it.”
On the game possibly having a playoff game intensity:
“Absolutely. I said earlier on the TV interview, Burrito [Juan Manuel Martinez] as we’re walking out we meet in the locker room and Burrito said ‘play like it’s a final.” And that’s exactly what we did tonight, is battle. I thought our quality was there. I thought we created a lot of chances, were extremely proactive. Defensively, we were tough, we were tough mentally and physically, and those are the kind of performances in the playoffs in games like this against the first place team right now.”
On Jamison Olave’s fitness:
“I think his body is great right now. He really takes care of his body very good. He gives me a heart attack just about every day it seems like something’s going on with something. His character, his mental toughness is unbelievable. So it’s also managing minutes and the training sessions and days off and regenerate and listen, if these guys need an extra day off, it’s not the end of the world. We’re pretty comfortable with how we’re playing right now, it’s improving small little parts of the game and if he needs and extra day, but he hasn’t taken one day off. He’s taken care of his body. Our entire team will come in and regenerate, have the next day off, and then we’ll start to prepare for Colorado on Tuesday.”
Defender Jamison Olave
On his goal:
“I think I had a lot of chances in the first half so that gave me the confidence for the second half. When I saw the corner kick coming in the ball came right to me and I scored.”
On his form:
“I know I was playing much in the past but I didn’t stop working because I knew the opportunity were around the corner because that’s soccer. That’s how it is I kept working and that’s the result I got.”
On the team’s win:
“I think that this game gave us a lot of confidence. We know that Dallas had a very good team, they are first in our conference, now Colorado and LA they play very well but we know with this result we can win those games. We know that we have our spot for the playoffs at home playing well and winning these games at home.”
Midfielder Luke Mulholland
On slowing Dallas down:
“I think Dallas is a very good team from front to back, they’re very composed. So they didn’t give us a lot tonight. It took very late to get that goal and it was difficult. We’re delighted with the goal and we’re delighted with the score-line. We’ve got to play them one more time and they come here so obviously we had to work hard tonight and maybe even harder the next time. They’re a good team but we cam out on top tonight and we’re delighted with the result so onto the next one.”
On the game having a playoff feel:
“I mean every game from here on out is going to have that vibe. We just have to take care of our home games. We take care of all of our home games and pick up points where we can I think we’ll position ourselves in a good place for the playoffs. Not only that I think we’ll have good momentum going into the playoffs as well. We don’t want to overlook any games or take any games for granted so we have to approach every game like we did tonight. I think when we have the whole team working defensively and in the attack we can be very dangerous. I think tonight we were unlucky not to score more but I think it’s one of those things where if we score earlier in the game then we push on for the second one. The timing of the goal today, we were happy with the 1-0 lead and we just shut up shop after that.”
On the goal:
“All the attention has been on Aaron Maund and Justen Glad this year and I’ve said at times not to overlook Olave because he’s got so much experience. I think he’s handled his role this year great. He’s always been available for us when we need him and he’s stepped up in vital games. It is always helpful when center-backs can come in with three or four goals in a season, I think that’s his second goal this year. That always very helpful and it’s great to see a big giant scoring goals like that especially in the top corner. Delighted for him, delighted for the buys to get the win and when we win we forget about all the bad things that happened in the game and we move onto the next game. Right now we’re feeling good and we’re looking forward to the game on Friday against Colorado.”
On building the momentum:
“Even though the home games we have from here on out are against west coast teams, we feel like this is the strongest team. To win the Supporters Shield or to win MLS Cup you have to beat the best. We’re fine with any team coming to our house we’ll give them a good game. I think we’ll come out on top. We’re looking forward to the Colorado rivalry game, obviously we lost at their place we won earlier on in the season here so we’re looking to win that back and bring back the Rocky Mountain Cup.”
Defender Tony Beltran
On the win bringing confidence:
“It’s a big boost definitely. I think FC Dallas is obviously a great team, first place, but we’re at home and wanted to get the three points. It was a tough game especially with them sitting in with their speed on the counter. I’m really proud of our organization and our resiliency to stay in the game and our patience and credit to Jamison [Olave] on the goal.”
On the goal coming from a defender:
“I suppose I mean we’ll take goals wherever they come. I’m very happy for him. He’s got a history of scoring big goals for us especially off of corners and not just with his head. A couple thighs and a couple volleys so I am happy for him tonight.”
On his view of the goal:
“I had a great angle. The ball bounced up and it wasn’t easy at hip height. He just put it in the top corner, the keeper didn’t have a chance.”
On slowing down Dallas’ speed:
“I think we were in good positions when the ball turned over so they weren’t running at us. We knew where Diaz was at all times because he obviously pulls the strings and everyone was in good shape and that’s how we were limiting them.”
On the home games coming up:
“This is a big boost mentally. Especially when these are not easy and these are big time opponents, big time western conference match-ups so to get started on this stretch with a win is good.”
On the playoff atmosphere:
“It was a very intense game but I feel like nothing feels like the playoffs but the playoffs. But obviously we want to win every game against a team like that especially when it’s 0-0. You have to stay mentally tuned in.”
FC Dallas
Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Overall thoughts:
“It was a pretty little game as far as options, but they had theirs and we had ours. Felt that whoever scored the goal were going to get the points. We ended up giving away a goal in a play that was controlled, in a set play; we gave them space for them to score. After that we tried to get the equalizer, but we didn’t have any ideas and then we adapted. We gave up maybe 10-15 minutes where we could have had some more patience and give ourselves more options. But we didn’t do well on that point. Disappointed tonight but with this group it has been great so far, and in the long run. And with the competitions we have, we have to turn around quick and try to get our momentum back.”
On RSL’s defense:
“I thought we didn’t have many ideas tonight. We tried to get it behind, and in fact we did a few times, but not with the characteristics or the frequency that we normally have. Tried to put more muscle than brain, and that is not us. Like I said we could get a point but we ended up just giving those away.”
On Acosta’s play:
“The plan with him was just try to handle in the middle, give us a little bit more range there. Tried to collapse the Salt Lake collaboration and we went down the first half tied 0-0, and not too many options. And again, we were in control, and then the second half we bent just to push and bring Acosta into the middle to have that precisions, and have another forward who could give us another front, and they did a good job on that. So at the end we got what we wanted but I cannot say anything else. Of course when you lost the game it’s hard to find the game plan working.”
On the team’s lack of production due to a busy schedule:
“It could be, but I have said numerous times that this group is generous, this group is great, this group is ready to observe the competition. Its not going to be easy, we knew it. But its not going to get any easier, from now on, but we will prepare. And come into Salt Lake is not an easy task, and I am still proud of these guys, continuing to do all that is possible to get results and they constantly have done it. So we will do as they say bounce back and get back on track as far as results but the boys are fine.”
Defender Walker Zimmerman
On the goal scored by Jamison Olave:
“They played it short and they played it quick so we had some trouble getting to our marks at the time. They had a lot of guys coming in late so it was more of a scramble in the box. It caught us tuned out a little bit and at this level if they catch you sleeping they will make you pay for it. It’s one of those things where we learn from it and we learn to stay tuned in every single second and hopefully prevent those kind of goals.”
On learning from last year’s run in for the Supporter’s Shield:
“Every single point counts, every goal counts. Last year we lost off goal differential and it was pretty frustrating. It’s games like these even when you can scrap a point on the road it’s a big deal, it’s a big point. So we come away a little disappointed tonight but at the same time we know we have eight regular season games left and we are still in control of our own destiny. It’s time to regroup and look forward to getting three points in the next game.”
On the run of five unbeaten games being snapped tonight:
“I think we were just a little bit off. We were put under pressure. Give credit to Salt Lake. They came out with a game plan to put us under and I think we could have handled it a little bit better. But at the same time we stood pretty strong. Like I said it is maybe one play where you tune out for a second and they make you pay. Something we wish we could change but we need to look on and get three points in the next match.”
