QUOTE SHEET
Real Salt Lake 2-2 Colorado Rapids
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
July 21, 2018
Real Salt Lake
Head Coach Mike Petke
On his view of the game:
“We opened up the game, dominated, break comes and the only thing they changed was a bit more bite. They were a bit more aggressive and we didn’t handle it well. When I say ‘we’, I mean the coaches, the players, and me sitting up top. We are all in this together. Two points slipped away and now we are obviously going to refocus and get ready for San Jose.”
On making sure it won’t happen again:
“If I had to narrow it down on what the lesson is that there can’t be any complacency whatsoever. We go up the way we started, we should have come out of the break completely focused and ready to go. Put a lot more pressure on them, quicker ball movement around that pressure. That’s the lesson to be learned.”
Assistant Head Coach Freddy Juarez
On the momentum shift:
“We got a little bit relaxed. As much as you want to talk to these guys and tell them not to give them any life, make sure we start from the break the way he started the game, which was very well. We started well and got two goals, then Colorado adding in a little bit more pressure, started winning a little bit more. If you look at the duels and that’s what ends up being the difference in the game. A little bit more first to the ball, a little bit more effort, and a little bit stronger in tackles and that’s what they really did. We didn’t quite adjust to that intensity.”
On Damir Kreilach:
“Damir brings experience, quality, he’s a number 8 so you want him to be able to connect our backline to our frontline. He adds a defensive heart too. You saw that when they had an opportunity to pump it into the box. We’re a team where Damir brings a lot on set pieces, and he adds that with his maturity and final ball passes. He is a good player for us.”
On pushing the ball up:
“It’s a little bit of human nature when people start putting a little bit of pressure on you. Building the attack is the hardest part of the game. You want to build, the guys wanted the ball in the back, the idea was not to pump the ball. The idea was that we have Albert Rusnák, one of the best players in the league, and when you play a player like that you shouldn’t have to take the coaches word to find that guy. One of the biggest things at halftime we told them was they have to find Albert, find him and he can get us out of some tricky situations. We tend to go a little bit longer and at times we were having success, but that gives a mixed message with that. We need to mature and get better. There will be times to do that and times that we have to build. It can’t just be one, it has to be mixture.”
Midfielder Albert Rusnák
On the momentum shift after the weather break:
“I think they made their substitution and adjustment at the break. It seems to have worked well for them. At the end of the day a point for them is bigger than the point is for us; we feel like we lost two points at home.”
On what stood out in the game:
“It was just strange that within 20 minutes we were two-nil up and we were all over them. If not for that break we could have been up four at halftime. But that is something now we can think of what could have happened if not for the break. They adjusted and came out with fire and we didn’t.”
On the lesson learned from this match:
“The game is not over until it’s actually over. Being up two to zero after 15 minutes means nothing at the end of the day if you tie the game. These games with the rivalry bring something extra. They could have won the game and we could have won as well. It shows how open these games are and who takes advantage of the space can win. It’s a tie and it’s a big disappointment for us that has cost us two points that we have to recover somewhere on the road.”
Defender Aaron Herrera
On the weather delay:
“We had good momentum going into that weather delay. That weather delay favored Colorado. They got to regroup and they came out a lot harder after that. We weathered it for the most part. I thought we defended well – we defended almost the whole game, it felt like. It was just two frustrating goals to give away.”
On his first start:
“It’s an awesome feeling. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been working hard and I’ve been patient waiting for my chance. The team was all supportive of me, giving me confidence throughout the whole game. I just worked my hardest and that’s what they told me to do.”
On having former Academy teammates in the lineup:
“It helped a lot. I’m comfortable playing with those guys – I’ve been playing with them for so long. Seeing them do this for so many years – Justen is in his fifth year already – they tell me if they can do it, I can do it.”
Colorado Rapids
Head Coach Anthony Hudson
On the message after the weather delay:
“To be honest, it was a really, really bad start for us and the weather delay sort of helped us because we were able to look at it and change a few things with the shape and make some personnel changes. I think everyone in the locker room - we weren’t happy with how we started and we knew that had to change. Full credit to the players. They’re response was excellent.”
On his message to Dillon Serna:
“I just said go make yourself a hero. It’s a local derby. I could tell when he was coming on, he was up for it. I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players after that break. They forced the game in our favor and they gave us everything.”
On why he made the tactical adjustment at the break:
“It just wasn’t working in the first 20 minutes for a few different reasons. We wanted to stop them high up the pitch and win the ball high up the pitch. It wasn’t working and that’s why we changed the shape and changed personnel. The response was almost instantaneous. We looked the more dominant team after that. It was a bit frustrating because I think we could have kept the ball better. It was a local derby and it was very intense. They had a couple chances and we had some good chances that we could have nicked it at the end. We were pleased to take the draw back to Denver. Going into this game we were so mindful of our fans and how they’ve stuck by us. It’s been a tough season for them. I think that’s what made the start even worse for us. We wanted so much to give something to the fans, especially the fans that came to watch us. We’re just pleased we can bring this opportunity back to Denver. The trophy is still alive and the response was good.”
Forward Jack McBean
On the weather delay:
“I think it definitely helped us. We regrouped and changed formations a bit and had a look at ourselves and our mentality. This rivalry means a lot to us, the fans and everyone involved with the club. So we just wanted to come out and work for each other. It changed when we got a goal and we fought all the way until the end and got the second one at the end there.”
On his mentality:
“I talked with the coaching staff all week and they kept me positive. I was starting all week in training with Barnes not training so I was prepared to start, but if he was ready to go, I would have been ready to come off and help the team. You look at guys like Dillon Serna, who hasn’t played much this year, come in with a great mentality and gets us the tying goal. It’s a mentality for us. We’re coming together as a group and fighting for each other. It’s nice to see.”
On getting the result:
“It was awesome. We worked so hard to get back into the game after a tough start. To get rewarded with a goal in a tie, it feels more like a win. It’s a good result for us on the road and we’re looking forward.”
Midfielder Dillon Serna
On the equalizing goal:
“I saw Eddie kind of cutting inside with the ball. I was making a run to the corner and I knew he was going to shoot it. I just had to follow it up. Luckily it fell to me and I put it away.”
On confidence from the coaches:
“It’s huge. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity. This was a big game for us – a huge game that we can build on. Coming from 2-0 down in an environment like this in a rivalry match – I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team. Now we’re going to go win the cup back at our place.”
On silencing the crowd:
“It was great. These two teams don’t like each other. There’s not a better feeling than silencing a crowd like that.”
