QUOTE SHEET
REAL SALT LAKE 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
RIO TINTO STADIUM; JULY 17, 2017
Real Salt Lake
Head Coach Mike Petke
On the attacking play tonight:
“Very pleased with the whole 90 minutes. If you break it down into the substitution brackets that we had the first 30 minutes I was very impressed. Just like the LA game, after that I was asked how I felt about it and I felt phenomenal but it had nothing to do with scoring 6 goals. It had to do with how we scored the 6 goals, it had to do with how we defended, it had to do with how we were balanced throughout. So the goals were just a byproduct of that and then into this break for 10 days but it was somewhat of a boot camp to stress certain things and continue to add my little bit of philosophy and tactics into this. And then to come out against a team like Man United, and go up 1-nothing and be explosive going forward and definitely balanced going forward as well I am thrilled. I am thrilled for the guys. I really down played this game the whole last 2 weeks for this game, completely downplayed it. That is why I am dressed like this tonight. I didn’t want the focus to be on this game I wanted the focus to be on Portland. But, what we talked about was taking this game as a stepping stone 2 days before a very important league game and to put into play the things we want to see in that game and I saw it tonight. So I am very impressed with not only the attacking but the balance throughout and to only give up 2 goals to a team like Man United you know. And I am a very competitive person, extremely overly competitive person, so for me to say that it means something. I am happy for tonight.”
On pushing up Tony and Demar:
“You know I have talked about it since I took over that I didn’t want to throw too much at the guys. It had to be a gradual step and a process, and the process came to a head right before the LA game where we really started pushing things and one of them was really getting our outside backs very high in the attack. So tonight, it was great to see the things that were in LA that were successful carried over against a team like Man United… is extremely important. And those were 2 big steps.”
Reasons for Yura absence:
“We got back from LA and had 2 days’ rest, then we had 3 days of practice the first 2 days of practice he was firing on all cylinders and he then had a bit of a hip problem and the hip problem has carried over for a while now. He is fighting to get back and it was an injury.”
On Monarchs player’s performance:
“I said it, I don’t know how loud I said it for the last week, but I think this game was very important for this organization, for the city, for MLS, for MLS supporters it is just terrible timing. 2 days before a big game and not to say that if this game had taken place a week and half ago during our break I still would have gotten these monarchs players up because they have obviously earned it. I have a very big spot in my heart for that team because I was there. But how close I am with Mark and seeing what he has done since I left and having that connection. These guys deserve that shot, perhaps even more of them. But we could only get so many guys so I was very happy to incorporate them into this night and I thought every one of them did very well.”
On Sebastian Saucedo’s aggressive play in a friendly game:
“I will say this Sebastian, he got hit pretty hard a couple of times and I don’t know if the Mata situation happened before but I could tell you my opinion, having coached him and knowing him on a personal level, there was no intent. He was just playing hard. It would be like if the New York Yankees went anywhere around the world and played another team the team would play extremely hard. If the Golden State Warriors went over to Europe every team would be playing hard. It is like the U.S. Open Cup when MLS teams go against so called “lesser teams” which they are not, but lower division teams it is their championship, their world cup. So perhaps that is what some of our guys, I know that it wasn’t intent from Bofo, from Sebastian whatsoever. But I walked halfway across toward the Man United bench to tell them I would like for them to put somebody back on, I don’t want to play a man up. I want my guys to get a real game against one of the best in the world. So if he feels that way he got a hell of a lot more experience than me, he has won a hell of a lot more than me. So he is probably right but I am a little irrational, I don’t think there was any intent with the Mata thing, I think that was a red card offense with what happened with Valencia. With all due respect to my mentor and my favorite manager.”
On ball movement from side to side:
“There are many things I could point to that is the most difficult part of coaching and one of those is talking to your players throughout a week or in our case two weeks, and pinpointing the way we want to play and the way we want to do things and how we want to play. Then getting into the game and perhaps the game takes a different turn and we don’t see those things. The reason why I am saying that is that we preached from LA, even before LA, from Orlando to LA and definitely Manchester United, they played two nights ago, flew in today at 1 o’clock, we are in altitude, we talked about getting the ball and moving it quickly, one to two touch, side to side, getting them running. And to see them do that is one of the joys of coaching because you don’t see it all of the time. You put a play down, a tactical plan down, and sometimes you don’t see it. But tonight, and LA and even against Orlando, in the last 3 games I have seen huge chunks of what we talked about. That is a long answer to your question but to get back to your, it was key, it was vital. You play against a team like Man United who is physically more physically dominant over you, they are technical dominant over you, and there is no shame in saying that, so how do you in altitude try to take advantage of them? One and two touch, side to side, getting them moving and hit them explosively on the counter and I think those are things we did incredible well tonight.”
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman
On the competition:
“Our biggest focus is on Wednesday but we know it’s important bringing in a big club like Manchester United to put on a decent performance and compete. Thirty minutes of fun now we switch back to looking at Portland.”
On pushing Tony and Demar up the field:
“I think we were always trying to get our outside backs into attack. A lot of games our decided when whoever teams is getting their outside backs in attack more. When those guys are getting the attack along with Wingert, Acosta, all those guys were a better team and more dangerous.”
On playing United:
“It was fun. I thought we did well. I thought we got the guys we needed to get on the ball, the ball like Albert and Savarino and Plata scored a nice goal. We would have liked to go into that thirty or out of thirty with a 1-0 lead. All and all, it was what we wanted.”
On the team’s mentality:
“It’s funny because before the game a lot of guys like our coaching staff and a lot of the messages about go enjoy. I think when I came back from warm-ups, the mentality was ‘Hey, let’s go out and win this.’ We might never play Manchester United here again so it’s a big opportunity to get a win or have a good performance over a world-class team. That was my main focus and hopefully we can turn this around in the second half.”
Midfielder Albert Rusnák
On the pace of the game:
“It takes a while to get going in a game and sometimes you can start a little bit slow but I think we great today from the first minute. We tried to keep the ball. We didn’t just kick it long with any purpose and scored a really nice goal. It was just a little bit unlucky towards the end to concede that goal.”
On growing up in the City Academy and playing United:
“A little bit. I grew up at City so for me that was the club in Manchester, but I know how big and how great Manchester United is so it’s a great experience not only for me, but also for the whole team.”
On the Portland game:
“The confidence is much better than it was a month ago. That 6-2 win at LA gave us more confidence and today I think we showed everybody tonight that we can play great soccer against bigger clubs. Like Kyle said the second half is not about playing great, it’s about getting points and trying to get that playoff spot.”
Manchester United
Head Coach José Mourinho
On the red card:
“I think the delayed was because the referee asked me to change the player and I didn’t. Because I don’t agree with the card. Saucedo I think was the name of the boy that was really aggressive during all the second half. What happened to Matta and some of the directions were a bit dangerous which I understand you know. You got people with enthusiasm that play against Manchester United but you come with the mentality of a friendly match and at the end you find yourself with a different mentality. So, pre-season, no problem. The players we play less were inexperience.”
On MLS sides:
“I’ve enjoyed playing Galaxy. And have enjoyed playing this first half. I think this team, the team that played the first 35 minutes, they are well coach. Good idea, understanding of the game, playing in relation to the qualities of their players. Two fast wingers, good midfield moving the ball. I really like the way they played. I just feel sorry that they have a game on Wednesday. Because of that they couldn’t play the whole game with the best team. I repeat in the second half, younger people, less quality, more enthusiasm, more running, more difficult for us to play. But I think the quality is better. I like to play in soccer stadiums. I know that you have absolutely amazing stadiums that sometimes you adapt to Football. I like the fans, the enthusiasm around and the quality is improving all the time I think. I’m happy, very happy.”
Defender Phil Jones
On the goals United conceded:
“It was a sloppy goal. We conceded two sloppy goals the other night, but we have to look forward to [Manchester] City on Thursday.”
On his fitness at center back:
“Whoever I’m playing under - Sir Alex [Ferguson], [David] Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, [Jose] Mourinho - if I’m fit then the majority of the time I’m playing. There are terrific defenders at the club, and the competition is how it should be.”
On the squad rotation in the match:
“We’re definitely a lot stronger for sure. We have recruited well. We have big Rom [Lukaku] up front. Victor [Lindelof] has come in and it looks like he’s been here for five years now. We’re positive and we’re looking forward to it.”
Defender Victor Lindelof
On getting his minutes with his new team:
“This is one of the biggest clubs in the world so there are a lot of good players here. I think it will be very good for me and I will learn a lot as a player from it.”
On his transition:
“It’s been good to play in these matches. It’s still early in the season. But it’s been good. It’s very high intensity in training with the players. It’s been good.”
On the transfer:
“I didn’t think about it much. I told my agent that I want to focus on Benfica, and if something comes up just tell me. I didn’t know so much but I’m very happy to be here.”
